Chaotic World Book-Chapter 290 - 285: Join the Sect or Get Beaten

Chi Li finally caught up with Yue Hongling.

But what started as a group of Divine Hall experts chasing her ultimately ended up with Chi Li pursuing her alone.

Yue Hongling dismounted her horse without hesitation to engage in battle. After a single exchange of blows, Chi Li’s expression changed, "The First Secret Treasure... you’ve broken through as well."

Yue Hongling smiled slightly, "I’ve just left the Secret Realm. If I hadn’t made a Secret Realm Breakthrough, wouldn’t I have disappointed Brother Chi Li, who has protected this Secret Realm for us for so long?"

Are these words something you learned from Zhao Changhe?

A mouthful of old blood surged in Chi Li’s throat. Taking a deep breath, he said, "The first thing you do after your breakthrough is challenge me?"

Yue Hongling, very seriously, replied, "Indeed, the battle in Yangzhou left me wanting more."

The more Chi Li thought about it, the more something felt off. Where did this obsession with me come from? I’m not Zhao Changhe... wait!

His expression suddenly changed, "Where is Zhao Changhe?"

Yue Hongling blinked her eyes.

From afar, a fast horse approached, its rider not yet arrived but his voice carried from a distance, "Leader Wu Balu has been assassinated, chaos reigns in Yellow Sand Market, hurry back to take control of the situation at Yellow Sand Market!"

Chi Li swiftly turned his head, shocked beyond measure.

Despite the ominous premonition, he found it hard to believe.

How long had the Divine Hall’s people been chasing after Yue Hongling? Although Wu Balu lacked high-ranking experts by his side at the time and was as cautious as a tortoise, his own strength was also remarkable. How could he have been killed in such a short span of time? Was this something Zhao Changhe was capable of?

Could it be someone from the Heavenly List?

Actually, it was not far off... Being at the pinnacle of the Earth List and only a step away from the Heavenly List himself, her combat achievements had been lacking for a long time; no one knew her current strength. If Wang Daoning, who barely clung to the bottom of the Heavenly List, truly fought with her, the ranks of the Chaotic World List might need to be revised, at the very least not easily decided in terms of victory or defeat. freēwēbηovel.c૦m

Taking advantage of his distraction, Yue Hongling quietly mounted her Ferghana horse and, quick as smoke, took off, "You’ve got more people coming to encircle you, so I won’t fight you."

Changhe said not to linger in battle, so I’ll listen to him.

Watching Yue Hongling run away like a streak of smoke, Chi Li was so angry he was about to cough up blood.

How had the usually upright Yue Hongling turned out like this... where was her martial artist’s heart?

Earlier on, Chi Li actually harbored a bit of admiration for Yue Hongling; or to put it another way, only a woman like her was worthy of him. Now, that little bit of admiration had flown far away; indeed, after being with a bad man, one is bound to turn bad, the valiant female warrior was no more.

What was infuriating was that now, whether to pursue or not was a dilemma.

Yue Hongling had made a Secret Realm Breakthrough and was not someone who could easily be captured. How much more chaotic would Yellow Sand Market become if things dragged on?

After a moment of indecision, Chi Li made up his mind, "Retreat!"

Yue Hongling, shielding her eyes with her hand, watched as Chi Li led his troop away into the distance. Then she suddenly turned her horse around, heading southeast towards Ba Tu’s army.

Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe and San Niang, along with a bunch of cooks and waiters shouldering luggage, were also heading straight into Ba Tu’s army.

Han Wubing had gone off by himself again, hardly saying anything.

Zhao Changhe didn’t understand why Han Wubing was becoming more and more reclusive and uncommunicative. Do swordsmen end up like this in the end? Yue Hongling and Xia Chichi are also swordsmen but you don’t see them acting like that...

Actually, Han Wubing had spent a month in hiding and upon achieving success, felt extremely content and truly wanted to have a good drink with his brothers.

However, once bitten, twice shy. Every time he saw you, you had women by your side, never repeating the same one, each more beautiful than the last, and more fearfully, each stronger... This San Niang could single-handedly defeat an army, truly a force of the Earth List, and you dare to mess with her!

If you become the big shot of such a woman and she gets angry, who can withstand that?

Wait a minute... Earth List... Xuanwu Lake... If this woman is Xuanwu, then Xia Chichi, Winged Fire Snake, Xuanwu... Zhao Changhe, are you really going to take over the Four Symbols Sect with your charm?

Han Wubing, who had uncovered this earth-shattering secret, dared not stay any longer. The Four Symbols Sect was part of the Demon Sect; when they went crazy, there was no reasoning with them. What if San Niang wanted to silence him?

Little Han valued his life above all and decided it was best to leave respectfully.

"This friend of yours, his sword intent is exceptionally pure. It’s rare to see a swordsman with such purity," San Niang remarked, watching Han Wubing’s receding figure, "I feel his master might not even be as pure as he is."

Zhao Changhe responded, "You know his master?"

"I’ve beaten them before."

"..."

"Sword Pavilion is just a bunch of sword fanatics, the kind that are obsessed with swords. But to me, that kind of frenzy isn’t pure; it’s an obsession. Han Wubing, on the other hand, is more translucent and sharp, with boundless potential."

Zhao Changhe secretly thought that if it were as he said, the lineage of Sword Pavilion might be pursuing the Ancient Sword Emperor. If Sword Tomb were to open again, he felt he should take Han Wubing to see it...

"Speaking of which," San Niang asked with some confusion, "he wasn’t tricked by me into killing Wu Balu, right? Why stay undercover for a month, succeed, and still not ask me for money?"

Zhao Changhe was quite speechless, "What does that have to do with you? Wubing did it purely because he couldn’t stand the atrocities of the beast pit and believed it should be ended—is this purposeful sword not as ’pure’ as you say?"

San Niang smiled slightly, "That is purity."

"How do you define it?"

"It lies within a dedicated heart." San Niang seemed reluctant to discuss Martial Arts with Zhao Changhe, her eyes skittering about. She looked at the inn’s staff fleeing with her, then began to speak telepathically, "These people are under Ying Wu’s command; don’t share too much with me, especially don’t divulge any Four Symbols Martial Arts concepts."

Zhao Changhe also conveyed telepathically, "I reckon your strength might not even be inferior to Ying Wu’s, so why the pretense of being his subordinate?"

San Niang chuckled, "Ying Wu’s people may well serve my purposes too... The time just isn’t right yet."

Zhao Changhe was reminded of what the Winged Fire Snake had said—the hidden power of the Four Symbols Sect was very great.

Indeed, it was vast, with layouts in the capital, influence within the military, arrangements within various factions like Cao Gang, and such penetration even within the covert intelligence groups organized by a figure from the Heavenly List like Ying Wu. Or could it be that San Niang was originally from this organization and had simply converted to the Four Symbols Sect?

If it was a matter of timing... Perhaps what they lacked was indeed a supreme figure from the Heavenly List, capable of uniting and leading them. Their current strength was slightly awkward; they were strong, yet always seemed just short of a breakthrough.

But now, with the acquisition of the Xuanwu Gemstone, could it elevate San Niang even further? In her view and Yue Hongling’s, this artifact was merely a catalyst for altering one’s Taoist Body, but the Four Symbols Sect must have had deeper uses for it, as San Niang has been all smiles and in excellent spirits to date.

San Niang’s voice carried a merry lilt as she telepathically communicated, "Hey, regarding whether to recruit you and the issue with your Star Map, someone asked me for my opinion. Regardless of the Star Map, just because of your connection with the Xuanwu Secret Realm, it seems to be destiny—we believe in fate... I agree to your joining."

Zhao Changhe rolled his eyes, "What use is your agreement if I haven’t consented?"

San Niang’s eyes spun playfully, "What if I give you the Winged Fire Snake?"

"She is an Imperial Concubine. I used to think she was a gift from the Vermilion Bird, but later realized it was a misunderstanding. The Vermilion Bird wouldn’t just give away an Imperial Concubine haphazardly, and neither would you... So stop teasing me."

"If you refuse to join, it could be very troublesome."

"How so?"

"Because I can confirm that your Celestial Stars Star Map is definitely not a symbol of Emperor Ye. Emperor Ye’s Star Map could only be the Four Symbols, not the Celestial Stars."

"That doesn’t make sense. Why call him Emperor Ye with only the Four Symbols? Emperor Ye should encompass the Celestial Stars. Right, especially the moon—without the moon, can he even be worthy of the name Emperor Ye?"

"That’s what Emperor Ye sought to achieve, but he didn’t. No one in the last epoch did," San Niang said meaningfully, "You possessing this image is a trait unique to you, unrelated to anyone from the last epoch. Little brother, don’t fall just yet; I am actually quite eager to see how far one with your symbol can go."

Zhao Changhe nodded, "I understand, but how does that make it troublesome? Since I don’t fit with the Four Symbols, are you suggesting that you’ll have to kill me? Is making friends that bad?"

"I can make friends, but I’m unsure if a certain little snake would agree, hmm? A man who deceives her feelings with a flimsy connection to Emperor Ye. Heehee..."

Zhao Changhe was bewildered, "Eh?"

"You either join and we can talk, or wait to be killed, your choice?"

Zhao Changhe responded irritably, "When did I ever deceive her with that reason?"

San Niang’s eyes curved into a smile, "That’s the excuse a woman makes for herself; don’t vex her into rage, little brother."

Pondering with a hand on his chin, Zhao Changhe said, "I will join, but not as a star under your banner. I’ll do it my way."

San Niang’s gaze became profound, "Aiming to conquer us?"

Before Zhao Changhe could explain, she chuckled again, eyes twinkling, "Alright, big sister awaits you."

With that, she no longer engaged with him and drifted away with her subordinates, "Participating in the war doesn’t suit my interests, nor Ying Wu’s strategic planning. Hence, at the Battle of Yanmen, Ying Wu will at best fulfill the agreement to distract Tie Muer for you. As for joining the fight, that’s out of the question. From here on, it’s up to you, little brother."

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PS: Last call for monthly tickets. Extra Chapter tonight.

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