Chaotic World Book-Chapter 54 - 53 What is your relationship with Chief Tang?

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This non-resident, I don't even know if he's genuinely complimenting or hinting that you're a natural born rebel that nobody dares to take in. After the patrons rambled on endlessly, now Zhao Changhe feels like everyone's words contain a teasing undertone, which is incredibly annoying.

What's even more annoying is that he doesn't know how to answer this question.

What's my relationship with Tang Wanzhuang?

How should I know!

"I am the man she can never have, does that count?"

Cui Yuanyong, somewhat helplessly, said, "Brother Zhao... Cui is not good at joking, can we talk about something serious?"

"Serious it is then, I killed the person she wanted to save right in front of her, and she personally issued a warrant for my arrest, which is known to everyone. Since she issued a warrant, can't I claim that she'll never catch me? It's a joke, but isn't it also true?"

Cui Yuanyong slowly said, "However... does she really want to catch you?"

Zhao Changhe said indifferently, "A patron just mentioned, a warrant blurred by rain and nobody cares about it? Such incidents are quite common in a place with lazy governance, the local officials don't care if Tang Wanzhuang lives or dies."

"No... Many criminals are not caught because their whereabouts are unknown, but she clearly knows you are in Beimang, and yet she sends such a naive... um, this inexperienced young girl. I've never seen the Demon Suppression Department treat a wanted criminal with such indifference."

The fool from the Cui Family was sent by Tang Wanzhuang, which means Tang Wanzhuang already knew Zhao Changhe was on Mount Beimang.

Knowing that he was in Beimang and not coming to catch him personally is one thing, but not even sending capable warriors, instead sending a naive kid who has never been in the Worldly Society?

Zhao Changhe knew he really couldn't explain this, so he didn't continue to be playful, and said, "Perhaps she thought Brother Cui would take action?"

"Maybe... but you may not know one thing... I am also indifferent to this task and didn't even want my little sister to do it, so I kept delaying, letting her break through the Mystical Gate Third Layer before proceeding. This delay lasted a month or two, and Tang Wanzhuang had no reaction whatsoever. Is this the official attitude towards a known location of a criminal?"

Zhao Changhe: "... why are you delaying?"

"I am delaying because I feel that you are not just any common criminal, and I planned to observe more. And her lack of response truly seems odd to me," Cui Yuanyong said flatly, "She should have reacted! Because you are not a common criminal, the person you killed was ostensibly just a local gentry worth a bounty of one hundred taels... but we know Luo Zhenwu is more than just a local gentry, and the consequences of your stab are grave."

Zhao Changhe fell silent.

Cui Yuanyong finally addressed the main issue: "If he truly were a Prince, Tang Wanzhuang should have come to capture you herself immediately, and not leave this matter to my little sister, allowing me to delay as much as I have, treating it with such indifference? This at least shows one thing, Luo Zhenwu is not really a Prince, and his death is not significant."

So Tang Wanzhuang is her name... Hmm.

Zhao Changhe sighed, "You guessed early on that Luo Zhenwu was not the Prince, didn't you? Otherwise, why would you observe me instead of catching me immediately? The Cui Family is a reputed family in Great Xia, and there are quite a few members serving in Great Xia. How did it become solely Tang Wanzhuang's matter?"

Cui Yuanyong showed a slight smile without saying much.

He looked at Zhao Changhe with a more amused expression.

Zhao Changhe felt uncomfortable under his gaze and said without words, "Why are you looking at me like that? If Luo Zhenwu is not the Prince, then it's normal that they are not so keen on my arrest, what's there to be curious about?"

"But..." Cui Yuanyong said slowly, "By letting my little sister catch you... does she not know that, logically, this ultimately leads to you and me confronting each other? Does she really want to catch you, or was she actually hoping to kill you by letting it look like she doesn't want to catch you?"

Zhao Changhe narrowed his eyes.

Indeed...

When Tang Wanzhuang received news of his presence in Beimang, it must have been right after he had defeated Vice Leader Huang and climbed the Chaotic World Book. It was then that Wang Dashan and others deliberately leaked the information and attracted a bunch of idiots challenging the Hidden Dragon List. It doesn't make sense for the Government Office not to be informed, they surely must have reported to the Demon Suppression Department immediately.

At that time, my own strength was at the First Layer of the Mystical Gate, and Cui Yuanyong's younger sister was at the Second Layer... No, it's not about strength, whether the squad leader Tang could guess or not about my rapid development within this period of time, that's not important. What's important is that the squad leader Tang should see that with the way Cui Yuanyong's younger sister behaves foolishly, even if she entered the most ordinary small mountain stronghold with no experts, she would most likely stumble.

Cui Yuanyong, seeing his younger sister facing danger, how could he possibly not take action?

Therefore, Cui Yuanyong would surely cross paths with me, Zhao Changhe, and given Cui Yuanyong's strength, how would I handle it? Wouldn't I be doomed to die!

But if they really wanted to kill me, squad leader Tang could simply send someone trustworthy, so why beat about the bush?

Because of the Cui Family's identity? If it's the Cui Family killing a Prince, is that beneficial for the situation? That's beneficial for the rebels, isn't it? Her mouth must almost be twisted with laughter, is that the squad leader Tang?

Or is squad leader Tang confident that Cui Yuanyong would definitely not casually assassinate me, Zhao Changhe, with a suspicious identity, and intends to let Cui Yuanyong contact me to confirm something?

But why doesn't she come and confirm herself, using such uncontrollable means?

Can't figure it out.

Zhao Changhe scratched his head and sincerely said, "Brother Cui, I'm not playing dumb with you. I haven't figured this out myself yet. Can you tell me the whole story of your trip to Beimang? Your sister doesn't seem to be under the Demon Suppression Department, does she?"

"No, it was me who wanted to go to Beimang first," Cui Yuanyong said. "I wished to challenge Yue Hongling, so I had people paying attention to her whereabouts and knew that she had appeared in Beimang. My sister, knowing I was leaving, couldn't stay calm at home and pestered me to take her out with me... I thought it was about time for her to travel outside, it would benefit her to travel thousands of miles, so I took her out for a tour, and my family agreed too."

That was indeed normal. Zhao Changhe didn't interject; he poured him another cup of wine, knowing there was more to follow.

"Although my family's journey to Beimang wouldn't necessarily pass through the Capital, it didn't detour too much to bring her first to the Capital for a tour and to meet squad leader Tang—truthfully speaking, if a woman could master the grace of squad leader Tang, that is our expectation."

Zhao Changhe thought back to the night when the woman's swordplay was as fluid as water, her sickly body blocking before the Demon Sect, beautiful yet serene, yet with an imposing demeanor, and he could almost imagine how she coughed while working at her desk, dragging her ill body while supporting this decaying empire... although this feeling might not be real, the initial impression certainly felt that way.

Even if it was just a superficial demeanor, if Cui Yuanyong's younger sister could learn even a little, the Cui family would probably set off firecrackers to celebrate.

He couldn't help but chuckle, "And then?"

"As it happens, my sister did not admire the grace of squad leader Tang, instead, she became interested in the business of the Demon Suppression Department. She talked about capturing thieves and suppressing outlaws, maintaining worldly justice, such thoughts were inspiring, and as she talked, she actually said she wanted to join the Demon Suppression Department."

Zhao Changhe almost burst out laughing.

The duties of the Demon Suppression Department are somewhat similar to those of a modern-day major crime squad, of course with much higher status since this is a fantasy martial arts world. The 'demons' they 'suppress' typically include individuals from the Chaotic World List, and essentially they are the rebel leaders and Alien Clan chieftains. The duties corresponding to those people for the squad leader Tang aren't as simple as being just a head of a major crime squad or a special forces team leader; she is one of the Imperial top ministers, a definitely high-ranking official of the Imperial.

A pampered young lady from home saying she wanted to face the entire Empire's bloodiest heavy-duty crimes unit, even if you were really let in, you could at best serve as a mascot. Do you really think you can suppress the Demon Followers of the whole world?

Seeing Zhao Changhe's expression, Cui Yuanyong knew what he was thinking and sighed helplessly, "Everyone knows this isn't reliable, and frankly, our family doesn't want to join such a Government Office, it doesn't align with our goals... And squad leader Tang likely wouldn't hope for anyone from the Cui Family in the Demon Suppression Department either. If one really did join, I guess it would swell her head by three sizes. So, she said that to enter the Demon Suppression Department, one must complete an initiation task and base the hiring decision on how the task is performed."

Zhao Changhe clicked his tongue, "Her words are cunning too, she never said that completing it would mean you could get the job."

"Exactly, I felt the same when I heard it at that time; it felt like a brushoff, finding any task to let my sister understand that catching thieves and suppressing outlaws isn't that easy, and she tacitly knew in her heart that I wouldn't help her complete the task," Cui Yuanyong said. "During the task selection, as she chatted about family with me, she learned I was going to Beimang... At that moment she suddenly paused, furrowed her brow, and pondered for a good while."

"So, was the task finally set to capture me?"

"Squad leader Tang said, they had just received news that there was a wanted criminal in Beimang, why not him. That's how it happened. Otherwise, how would we know where you were?"

It seems squad leader Tang hadn't thought about it this way before but, upon learning Cui Yuanyong was heading to Beimang, she made some deductions and managed to turn the originally intended brushoff task smoothly into this situation.

Zhao Changhe's expression gradually turned strange, and suddenly a nonsensical thought popped up—if squad leader Tang could truly be confident that Cui Yuanyong wouldn't recklessly kill, this arrangement, how come it feels a bit like setting up a blind date?

No wonder Cui Yuanyong's question wasn't "your identity" but "what exactly is your relationship with squad leader Tang"!