Chaotic World Book-Chapter 448 - 435: Entering Shu

Yue Hongling had said that after visiting Sword Pavilion, she planned to head to the Miao Region.

At that time, the battle of Xiangyang had not erupted, and Yue Hongling was unaware that Zhao Changhe was close at hand. If she had fled, her normal instinct would have been to head for the Miao Region; there wouldn’t typically be any other options to consider, so she should be there.

It was just that I didn’t know if she had left after so long...

Regardless, going there would at least allow me to find some clues. It would be best if she were still there.

Actually, if it weren’t for these circumstances, Yue Hongling would normally go to Sword Pavilion and then to the Miao Region, and Zhao Changhe would normally do the same... I wonder if meeting there could be considered "meeting in the same place for different reasons from the far north to the deep south"?

Perhaps it could be somewhat considered... Nevertheless, Zhao Changhe no longer had the mood for such thoughts at this moment.

The Miao Region is vast... Finding someone there is like looking for a needle in a haystack.

All I can hope is that Yue Hongling and Shi Wuding are both celebrities, so it might be easier to pick up clues when inquiring about them...

Especially since I’m not alone now, finding someone should be relatively easier than before.

Zhao Changhe entered Shu County from Ba Shu, making his way to Heavenly Mansion. Then, he headed straight to a famous jewelry shop, which was the designated meeting place agreed upon with Li Si’an. I didn’t know whether Li Si’an had already arrived.

Upon arrival, I saw Li Si’an examining jadeite: "The quality of this batch doesn’t seem very good... Has there been trouble over there recently? The shipments seem off, all coming in like misshapen fruits... Eh? You’re here early?"

Zhao Changhe strode inside: "I was worried you hadn’t arrived; good to see you have."

"Your expression... Something went wrong?"

"Ba Mountain Sword House is deserted; the entire sect has relocated. Did you know?"

"I just found out the news too..."

"How could the intelligence be so delayed?"

Li Si’an set down the jadeite, sighed, and said: "The Sword Pavilion is full of reclusive swordsmen. Think about Han Wubing’s personality... While most of the people there aren’t as solitary as he is, the basic template is similar. They rarely interact with the outside world. It’s normal that people don’t hear about their appearances within the Worldly Society... For such a semi-isolated sect, even if they were suddenly wiped out, probably few people would know."

Zhao Changhe snorted coldly: "They rarely interact with outsiders, but could it be that most are too busy with other matters?"

Li Si’an curiously asked, "What makes you say that?"

Zhao Changhe answered directly: "It’s speculated they might be the public face of the Demon Suppression Department... Such speculation may not be accurate, but Yue Hongling once fought against them, and people died by her sword; this I confirmed through autopsy."

Li Si’an’s expression changed slightly: "This..."

He glanced around, then pulled Zhao Changhe into an inner room: "Be cautious when speaking of such matters in Ba Shu... Although Sword Pavilion disciples rarely roam the Worldly Society, many from high-ranking families in Ba Shu, even the military and the Demon Suppression Department, have sought instruction at Sword Pavilion; they’re almost like informal disciples. Therefore, while Sword Pavilion might not stand out, their influence is wide."

Zhao Changhe narrowed his eyes: "Rare interaction with outsiders, yet many go there to engage..."

"Perhaps it’s their way of shaping their own style," Li Si’an said with a smile: "By doing so, they’ve cultivated the appearance of the holy land of swordsmanship in Ba Shu."

"So, their relocation..."

"I don’t know how credible your Demon Suppression Department theory is... Suppose Yue Hongling spreads this undocumented suspicion, it wouldn’t really affect Sword Pavilion much. Even though Yue Hongling’s reputation has always been good, she’s still just a young star in the Worldly Society; it’s hard for her to shake the foundation of such a well-established name. Even when you tell me, I’m inclined to believe you, but what’s the use? I can’t take it as the unequivocal truth; it’s just a notion in my mind."

Zhao Changhe nodded: "That’s true. So the relocation isn’t due to this?"

"It could potentially attract enemies of the Demon Suppression Department to come snooping around, greatly increasing the chance of mishaps, so relocation might be a possibility for this reason..." Li Si’an pondered: "But I don’t think it seems like the main reason, it’s at most one of them. To relocate the entire sect over this seems a bit of an overreaction..."

Zhao Changhe calmed down, feeling there was some logic to this.

Li Si’an continued: "By that logic, maybe Yue Hongling didn’t clash with them due to uncovering the Department’s secrets; there might be other factors. You don’t even know whether the battle took place before or after the relocation, do you?"

"Hmm..." Suddenly, Zhao Changhe found the situation slightly amusing.

Previously, when venturing beyond the border, I thought Yue Hongling was in danger and rushed out frantically, only to realize afterward that her danger was minimal. Beyond the border is vast; it’s not easy to be cornered by someone.

This time was the same, the initial judgment was always like this, but careful analysis revealed that things might not be as they seemed. Even if she was truly being chased by Shi Wuding, as long as she could shake him off on the road, hiding in the Miao Region wouldn’t make her much easier to find than beyond the border...

Logically, Yue Hongling doesn’t need anyone to worry about her; her worldly experience is far richer than mine. Yet Zhao Changhe always concerns himself irrationally with her safety...

Perhaps it is such nomadic figures that give one a sense of driftwood, always seeming to hover between life and death, invoking the deepest concern.

Li Si’an said: "Regarding the Demon Suppression Department matter, I’ll send word to the chief to keep her informed. Are you heading to the Miao Region? Is there anything I can help you with?"

Zhao Changhe replied: "Mainly helping to find clues about Yue Hongling; I’m not powerful enough to do it alone."

"Not really, aren’t you heading to the Miao Region just to find the entrance to the Secret Realm?"

"...What can you even help with? If it could be found that easily, Ying Wu would have long entered on his own."

"At least I can set you up with an identity that’ll make it easier for you to get by there. Otherwise, do you think just any Xia person could thrive upon entering?"

"Business convoy?"

"Exactly, I’ve had long-term business dealings with the Grand Landlord Lei Ao over there. When you go, you might not be treated as a distinguished guest, but getting a little help wouldn’t be a problem, especially if you’re looking for people – they’d be essential. As for how to find the Secret Realm, your skill level is higher than ours..."

"Okay..." Zhao Changhe thought for a moment, "Is this business convoy identity easy to assume? Can I pretend to be someone else?"

Li Si’an curiously asked, "What trick are you up to now?"

"How about if you introduce me as the well-known Wang Daozhong from the Wang Family, would they believe it?"

"They... should, probably." Li Si’an said with a wry smile, "It might even work out better. If you were said to be one of my fraternity members and you caused trouble over there, I wouldn’t be able to shake off the responsibility. But if it’s Wang Daozhong whom I’ve introduced for business connections out of respect, I could disassociate myself from whatever you do there."

Zhao Changhe was quite satisfied, "Then it’s settled."

Li Si’an said, "Wang Daozhong caused trouble at the Yang Family and was rescued from prison. He couldn’t stay in Langya anymore and was sent to the Miao Region to forge new paths. It makes sense..."

"Mhm."

"But you’ll have to disguise yourself a bit, don’t take them for fools... like maybe put on a beard?" Li Si’an scrutinized him, "I can get you a Scholar’s Robe too..."

Zhao Changhe sighed, "Someone once told me if I continue to disguise myself so sloppily, I’d get beaten up. Don’t worry."

By now, Zhao Changhe had long forgotten his past statements about not wanting to live under someone else’s face.

No help for it, playing Wang Daozhong was too appealing.

Li Si’an found a set of Wang Daozhong’s usual style of clothing and even managed to get some fake beards. Zhao Changhe took out his bottles and pots to apply makeup thoroughly; looking at himself in the mirror, he resembled Wang Daozhong indeed...

Li Si’an was meanwhile loading the cart, saying, "We’re mainly transporting Shu brocade there and exchanging it for jade stones on their end. However, the recent batches of jade have been of poor quality, and I was planning to go over personally to see what’s going on... Whether Lei Ao’s starting to play tricks on me, or if our people stationed in the Miao Region are lining their pockets and fobbing off shoddy goods as good ones... It’ll be just right to bring Mr. Daozhong along for introductions..."

Zhao Changhe peeked outside at the accompanying crew; there was quite a number: "All from the Demon Suppression Department? Or your Bandit Brothers?"

"The Demon Suppression Department wouldn’t have this many people... Some here are from our Brotherhood, some are locally recruited. Why, don’t you trust them?"

"Hmm..." Zhao Changhe stowed Dragon Sparrow back into the ring and took out the Ancient Dragon Emperor Sword to wear at his waist, "From now on, call me Mr. Daozhong."

Dragon Sparrow sat in the ring a bit dumbfounded.

Just a few days ago, it felt like it was about to be put to use - why was it now gathering dust?

Taken for granted, huh?

Just as it was getting antsy, thinking about rebelling, Zhao Changhe’s soothing mind-voice came through, "I’m just pretending to be someone else right now. When there’s a real battle, you’ll be my trump card."

Dragon Sparrow snorted twice without replying.

It was odd indeed, for a person to actually bother explaining things to a sword... Different from Xia Longyuan.

Li Si’an chuckled, "There’s still some time before we finish loading, how about we grab a bite to eat first? Get into your role as Mr. Daozhong."

Zhao Changhe looked around, seeing no issue, he followed Li Si’an out to a nearby restaurant.

He had barely walked two steps out the door when a surprised voice came from the street corner, "Isn’t that Mr. Daozhong? When did you come to Ba Shu?" freewёbnoνel-com

Zhao Changhe turned his head to see a scholar in a long robe with several followers who appeared to be just passing by, clearly quite surprised to see Wang Daozhong here.

A string of ellipses went through Zhao Changhe’s mind, I don’t freaking know you, how am I supposed to respond?

Then he heard Li Si’an’s Secret Transmission in his ear, "Xie Ruhai, the Chief Historian in the Shu County Governor Zhai Muzhi’s residence."

Something clicked in Zhao Changhe’s mind.

Xie Ruhai was one thing, but Shu County Governor Zhai Muzhi was another, holding an identity that people of the Worldly Society found very interesting.

After He Lei, Cai Wenque, and Maitreya from the Earth List fell one after another, the foremost ranks from the Human List ascended to fill up the Earth List. The current gatekeeper of the Earth List was no longer Wang Daozhong, and the number one of the Human List was no longer the former Vulture Hunting Teeth; instead, the former number four had climbed to the first spot.

Whether one climbed up there lying down or not, being at the top of the list made one very conspicuous.

The former number four of the Human List, now number one, Shu County Governor Zhai Muzhi.

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