Chapter 105: Yangzhou

Chapter 105: Yangzhou

“So it turns out that Brother Zhao is the 88th Hidden Dragon!” said the burly man, Wan Dongliu, with a smile. “I wonder where Brother Zhao is headed? There is no greater way of meeting than a chance encounter. Our main headquarters is just up ahead in Yangzhou. How about going to the city for a drink?”

“Please do wait a moment, Brother Wan, I’ve got some questions to ask,” Zhao Changhe dismounted the horse and grabbed the slim man. “What is this ‘Bloodthirsty Asura’ thing all about?”

Wan Dongliu: “...”

The slim man’s leg was broken and he was writhing in pain. It had been completely out of his expectations that Zhao Changhe would be so concerned about this matter and suddenly grab him. Grimacing from the pain, he said, “Aren’t you known for practicing the Vicious Blood Art and the Vicious Blood Saber Art? People say that when you start hacking at someone, your eyes turn red, and you also have a move that looks like you’re devouring your target. With your broad saber, you dismember the bodies of those who oppose you... If you’re not bloodthirsty, then who is?”

“...Let’s forget about the bloodthirsty part, alright? What in the world is the ‘Asura’ part about? It sounds so tacky,” Zhao Changhe remarked.

Wan Dongliu: “...”

Why are you so fixated on this? Do you hate the nickname that much?

The slim man, still in agony, broke into a cold sweat. “That’s just what those guys from the Maitreya Cult said. They say that the asura[1] is an ancient evil god, quick to anger, and incredibly aggressive...”

Zhao Changhe opened his mouth but then closed it again. For the second time in the last twenty seconds, he was speechless.

It’s really weird, why does it seem so fitting?

The slim man continued, “...There are both male and female asuras, and the male ones are said to be terribly ugly.”

Zhao Changhe grew furious and said, “The Maitreya Cult and I cannot live under the same sky!”

On the other hand, despite being enemies, the slim man and Wan Dongliu shared the same sentiment on this matter. They both found the name to be incredibly fitting for Zhao Changhe.

While names may not fit a person well, nicknames usually do...

In any case, neither of the two took the matter too seriously. Wan Dongliu chuckled and said, “Brother Zhao, it’s just a nickname. If you are unsatisfied with it, then feel free to come up with one yourself. To be honest, spreading nicknames and such is something that our Cao Gang excels at. Many famous martial artists, such as the Jade-Faced Divine Sword and the Little White Dragon, had their nicknames propagated by us. We’ve already named over a hundred Little White Dragons at this point.”

Zhao Changhe’s eyes lit up. “Does that really work?”

“Indeed,” Wan Dongliu smiled and said. “How about it, Brother Zhao? What would you like to be called?”

Zhao Changhe found himself at a loss. He had not really thought about such a thing. If he had known, he would have asked Tang Wanzhuang for help; she was more cultured than he was.

“Forget it. Since you said that you deal with this kind of matters, I’ll think it over slowly,” Zhao Changhe said as he remounted his horse. “Is Yangzhou just up ahead?”

“Young master, why don’t you stay at our Xiaoxiang Pavilion? Our young ladies are the most renowned in the city. You can also rest assured about leaving your fine horse with us. We have the best fodder and will take care of it most exquisitely...”

Zhao Changhe stopped staring at his surroundings and said with a smile, “In Jiangnan, what does ‘Xiaoxiang’[6] refer to?”

“Oh? It appears that you are a man of culture, young master! We just call it... Eh...” As Zhao Changhe turned his head, the madam’s expression changed, and her voice began to stutter. “That scar... B-Bloodthirsty Asura Zhao Changhe... ...”

Zhao Changhe’s smile vanished instantly.

“What’s the matter? Would my notorious reputation affect the decorum and security of your establishment?”

“N-No, not at all,” the madam hurriedly replied with a forced smile. “When someone as distinguished as yourself visits, we truly cannot be more delighted”

“Really?” Zhao Changhe dismounted. “In that case, I’ll be staying here.”

The madam secretly complained in her heart. She was not concerned about the decorum being affected, but she did worry about the security. If a dangerous man like Zhao Changhe were to cause trouble inside, the entire building might just end up being torn down. She collected herself and forced a smile, saying, “Young master, please come in. Our Xiaoxiang Pavilion pays respects to the Cao Gang, perhaps you have some connections with them?”

This was her way of hinting at her backing. Zhao Changhe chuckled and was about to respond when loud laughter came from a nearby street corner. “Hahaha, it seems like you also enjoy the flavors of Hunan, brother Zhao! Not bad, not bad! This Xiaoxiang Pavilion is actually run by our Cao Gang. Brother Zhao, feel free to enjoy yourself as much as you want. All expenses are on me!”

Oh, wow, so you do actually have connections with our Cao Gang... The madam’s expression immediately turned into one of awe and respect. She then turned to the person who had just arrived and greeted him with a smile. “Junior Gang Leader.”

Wan Dongliu strode over and patted Zhao Changhe on the shoulder enthusiastically. “Come on, let me treat you. I must let you experience Yangzhou’s hospitality!”

Why are you everywhere? Did you order your subordinates to report to you as soon as I arrived in the city? Did you also get them to report where I am? This level of enthusiasm is honestly a bit too much for me.

Zhao Changhe’s thoughts shifted. He intended to figure out what was going on with this person. With that in mind, he did not refuse, and he said with a smile, “Well then, I shall accept your kind offer, Brother Wan.”

1. An asura in Buddhism is a demigod of war that can be described as hot-tempered, stubborn, and reckless. ☜

2. In fact, Jiangnan (江南) refers to regions south (南) of the Yangtze River. ☜

3. The historical Yangzhou was known for its red-light district ☜

4. This seems to be an excerpt of “Barbarian Bodhisattva” by Wei Zhuang , a poet of the late Tang Dynasty. ☜

5. This is a real bridge in Yangzhou that is named so because it’ s 24m long and 2.4m wide, and it has 24 steps on either side. ☜

6. Xiaoxiang (潇湘) is a poetic name for Hunan Province, and more specifically refers to the Xiang River that runs across Hunan. ☜