Chaotic World Book-Chapter 288 - 283 Yuan San Niang

Within the Yellow Sand Market was utter chaos.

Chi Li and others from the Divine Hall flew out, racing towards the direction from which Yue Hongling’s voice had come.

A heavenly horse, far superior to any inferior mount she had ridden before, was kicking up dust under the rising sun, quickly becoming a tiny speck in the distance. Yue Hongling’s mocking laughter carried on the wind, "Chi Li, I thought you had the heart of a martial artist. We agreed to a duel, and yet so many have charged out. Do you still consider yourself a martial artist?"

Chi Li’s expression was grim. As if he hadn’t heard, he waved his hand and commanded, "Chase!"

He did have the heart of a martial artist, and under different circumstances, he would have gladly engaged in a satisfying duel to the end with Yue Hongling.

However, hailing from the Divine Hall, he placed greater importance on finding the secret realm that had eluded people for many years, pursuing the guidance bequeathed from Ancient Longevity Heaven.

Before this goal, one’s personal martial arts pursuits were secondary.

Yue Hongling at this moment carried key clues to this secret realm. How could he possibly let her go?

"Where the hell did she get that heavenly horse from!" gasped a subordinate huffing and puffing beside him. "Do secret realms also produce horses!"

But then, they saw Yue Hongling turn back, draw her bow, and let loose an arrow, striking down a Divine Hall subordinate from his horse: "Chi Li, if you’ve got the guts, chase me yourself, don’t send these men to their deaths!"

Chi Li took a deep breath and suddenly sprang from his horse, dashing through the air.

He was much faster than any horse...

Yue Hongling glanced back briefly, offering a slight smile before spurring her horse to gallop faster.

With such a terrifying speed, perhaps Chi Li had also glimpsed the secret treasure. Truly, he was the most promising former Hidden Dragon from the grassland.

Moreover, with teachings from the Great Shaman himself, his strength had advanced by leaps and bounds. At least in the experience and guidance regarding secret treasures, he far surpassed her solo efforts. Fortunately, she had Zhao Changhe; even now, she still matched Chi Li step for step.

Her fighting spirit surged, but unfortunately, she was not here to fight this time. She was here to distract the people from the Divine Hall to ease her lover’s task, even though she had no idea what Zhao Changhe planned to do. In any case, she couldn’t allow such a potent secret treasure hunter to disturb Zhao Changhe, the farther she drew him away, the better.

Yue Hongling realized she was getting accustomed to their collaborative partnership, whether it was exploring the secret realm, array formations, stabbing Ba Tu, or slaying envoys, these were tasks that couldn’t be accomplished alone. Including at this moment where she led the enemy away while he delved deeper into the market.

Looking back suddenly, she almost forgot what she used to do when she was alone.

Yue Hongling found herself somewhat fond of this sensation of facing enemies alone. Perhaps her heart still yearned for solitude, coveting his companionship, yet also enjoying solitude.

Zhao Changhe perhaps felt the same.

The two often saw reflections of themselves within each other.

...

Zhao Changhe once more smeared yellow across his face amidst the pandemonium of the Yellow Sand Market and entered "There’s An Inn".

His disguise mud was used up; this might be his last time disguising himself. He would need to find ingredients for a new batch. Or perhaps... next time he could get Sisi to bring a batch over?

The thought flitted through his mind as San Niang, perched on a stool at the counter, flipping through the ledger book, caught his gaze.

Apart from her, the tavern was empty.

Nevermind the tavern; even the bustling activity of loading and unloading goods outside the market, as busy as a port, was now nowhere in sight, desolate.

With the Battle Lion Tribe at war, the urgency at Yanmen’s siege increased, the Divine Hall’s operatives lurked, and the lake turned into a forbidden zone. The situation clearly spelled an impending storm. Any merchant with a shred of sensitivity would have no desire to linger and would have long since hurried away, letting go of the rowdiness and lecherous gazes that once coveted San Niang’s charm.

San Niang knew someone had entered, yet didn’t even raise her head as she sighed at the ledger, "War, war, war, what damned war is this that’s making me weep losses..."

She even snuffled, kicking her small feet in agitation: "Idiots, all of them!"

Zhao Changhe’s face was expressionless: "Why does the old woman pretend to be a maiden?"

San Niang: "?"

Zhao Changhe casually took a seat beside her on the counter, side by side, and drawled lazily, "I have a big business proposition. Are you in?"

San Niang glanced at him skeptically and scoffed after a while, "You’re not thinking of buying me, are you?"

"I’ve already called you an old woman; can’t you take a hint?"

San Niang gritted her teeth in irritation, "I know what your business is about, it involves me paying out, not getting paid! Spill it, how much do you want for the secrets to the entrance of the secret treasure?"

With the sound of his voice, the doors and windows closed tight without a breeze, not even a fly could get in.

Zhao Changhe saw the ill intent behind San Niang’s usual mask.

Because she could have just grabbed him and questioned him without paying a cent.

Honestly, San Niang had never even considered that Zhao Changhe would dare to come to the tavern alone. Did she really think San Niang could only sell liquor and flirt?

Facing San Niang’s malicious gaze, Zhao Changhe acted as if he hadn’t noticed, and casually pulled out a bottle of wine from behind the counter, uncorked it, and took a big gulp, "There’s nothing better than Jiangnan osmanthus wine."

San Niang smiled coquettishly, "You can drink as much as you want, even for a lifetime."

"Catching me for interrogation is pointless. Even if you get the answers, you can’t get around Wu Balu and Chi Li. It would simply mean making a wedding dress for the barbarians. All you can do is report to Ying Wu and have him come in person. But once Ying Wu arrives, your personal requests... they disappear... It’s best to cooperate with me."

A flash of surprise darted through San Niang’s eyes, but she only laughed, "What personal pursuits could I have? I just love money..."

"Really?" Zhao Changhe replied noncommittally, "Then go report to Ying Wu first. I’ll give him the Secret Realm, and he helps me with one thing, and the deal is done. I don’t want your money, let alone your body."

"Mind telling me first what you want Ying Wu to do?"

"When Tie Muer takes advantage of people with his Heavenly List strength, I just need Ying Wu to hold him back. I believe Ying Wu won’t be afraid of Tie Muer."

"No wonder you said it conflicts with my personal pursuit... He surely won’t be afraid of Tie Muer, but with that, can I still do business in the grassland?" San Niang said with a flirtatious smile, "How about this... you tell me the secret book, and I can agree to anything..."

Zhao Changhe leapt three feet sideways, jumping directly from beside her to the edge of the counter.

San Niang couldn’t help but laugh, "Look how scared you are... was it necessary?"

Zhao Changhe said, "You should know that if you support another power, your business can still thrive, and even do better. That’s not really what you want... or rather, you’re not really working for Ying Wu at all."

San Niang’s expression gradually turned colder.

Zhao Changhe jumped down from the counter and walked to the window to look into the distance, "I asked Ba Tu... Yellow Sand Lake had a specific name a very long time ago. It seemed to be called Xuan..."

Before the words were finished, a jade hand was already at his throat.

But when the hand squeezed, it touched a softly glowing gemstone.

San Niang quickly retracted her strength, her gesture of choking turned into a gentle touch on his neck, and by the time she withdrew her hand, the gemstone was in her palm.

San Niang’s eyes shone brighter than the gemstone.

"This may not really be your thing, but somehow, from me to Hongling, there’s this subconscious thought that it ought to be yours. Maybe because you’ve given your life’s efforts for it, and it’s too precious to betray; or maybe because it feels like if I wrong you, we’d have to be at loggerheads until death. I like Chichi, and I like the Winged Fire Snake too, I don’t want to be your enemy."

Listening to him, San Niang’s expression went from surprise to amusement when he mentioned "liking the Winged Fire Snake," and then she finally broke into an odd, giggly smile.

Zhao Changhe turned around, his face beaming with a smile, "There’s more in the Secret Realm, first come first served. I can’t give it all to you, but this gemstone should be the core item you need most. I’ll give it to you for free, asking for nothing in return. Not your money, nor your body. So, what else do you need to interrogate me about?"

San Niang said with a flirtatious smile, "Would you like the Winged Fire Snake?"

"I would. Can you help me woo her?"

"Hee..." San Niang held the gem and chuckled, then burst into laughter, clutching her stomach and bending over in mirth, "I can, I’ll help you."

Annoyed by her laughter, Zhao Changhe spoke lightly, "What you want is this gem, not the Secret Realm itself. Ying Wu, on the other hand, wants the lost space. There’s no longer any conflict of interest between you. Can you now convey my deal to Ying Wu?"

"I can." San Niang ran toward the back of the house, thumping along, and soon after, a pigeon took flight.

"Ying Wu is not far away, he will receive the message quickly, and I can assure you, the deal will happen." San Niang’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him, "You’re giving me the gemstone, really not wanting anything in exchange? Anything?"

"Rather than me wanting you to do something, it’s better to say that we both do something you’ve wanted to do for a long time, something you’ve tried to coax others into doing."

"Hm?"

"Kill Wu Balu. I know you won’t kill him yourself, fearing that the Chaotic World Book would speak out, but this time, you handle the killing, and I’ll take your place on the list."

San Niang’s eyes curved into a smile, "You’ve got quite the strategy, word has even spread to Jiangnan."

"Just tell me, are you in or not?"

"I’m in."

If anyone had heard the last two lines, they might have thought a most agreeable deal had just been struck.

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