Chapter 146: See the Essence Through Dense Fog

Chapter 146: See the Essence Through Dense Fog

Although he said that he was going to continue exploring the secrets of vicious blood qi in the afternoon, Zhao Changhe went neither to Tranquility Hall to visit Lu Shaoxion nor to visit the third young master of the Gu Clan. Instead, he went to Tiger Hill Sword Pond again.

Watching Zhao Changhe pace around the edge of the pond, Sisi could not understand what he was doing here.

Anyone who analyzed the situation would also think that the Tiger Hill Sword Pond was unrelated to the issue. It seemed much more sensible for the true source of the vicious qi to be outside. With young masters from both the Lu Clan and the Gu Clan having been tainted, it made more sense to look for places that they had both visited.

In fact, at the moment, Tang Buqi was doing exactly that together with Gusu’s Demon Suppression Bureau, which Susu saw to be one of the rare moments where Young Master Tang was actually acting in a reliable manner.

On the other hand, Zhao Changhe, who always gave others a very reliable impression, seemed to be working toward nothing at the moment. He kept wandering around the Tiger Hill Sword Pond, but after half an afternoon, he still had not found anything. Despite that, he was even chuckling to himself.

Those who did not know better might think that was just here for a walk with a maid.

Although the surrounding scenery was indeed beautiful, and there was a comfortable atmosphere with the presence of the pond and a cool breeze, Sisi was someone diligent. She felt like they were simply wasting their time here, and she had not been working so hard just to enjoy herself.

“Master,” seeing Zhao Changhe crouched under the shade of a tree looking at ants, Sisi finally could not bear it anymore. “Master, should we go to investigate the case like Young Master Tang and the others?”

“Huh? Since they’re already checking the places where both those young masters had been, why don’t we just ask them about their findings later? What’s the point in going and checking the same places they are?”

Sisi opened her mouth but could not find a response for a while. After a while, she said, “But there isn’t much of a point in sitting here and watching ants either.”

“Don’t underestimate ants. They are much more sensitive to crises than humans.”

Sisi rolled her eyes speechlessly.

While that might be true when it comes to ordinary people, you’ve already broken through the fifth layer of the Profound Gate. Wielding a saber weighing forty or fifty jin with one hand doesn’t even trouble you in the slightest! You’re no longer an ordinary person. Your senses should have already surpassed those of any creature in the natural world. What’s the point of looking at ants when you can just close your eyes and sense the surroundings yourself?

“Do you really think that this is meaningless?” Zhao Changhe chuckled. “But have you noticed...”

As he spoke, he tossed a piece of dessert leftover from lunch over toward the ants.

Some ants quickly crawled up to it.

“...Have you noticed that there are very few ants here?”

Sisi was stunned. “Could it be that the vicious qi really is here? But then why hasn’t anyone sensed anything at all?” Upstodatee from n(0)/ve/lbIn/.(co/m

“If there really was vicious qi here that could force ants to move away, then there shouldn’t be any of them left here.” Zhao Changhe said, “Based on our common knowledge, what does it usually mean when ants move their nests?”

Sisi said, “It means that heavy rain is coming, which may flood their nest.”

“But there have been no signs of rain lately, and these ants should have moved their nests a long time ago, leaving behind only a small number of them here... Can we consider that they sensed something else that would flood their nests, prompting them to migrate much earlier?”

Sisi’s eyes flashed with intrigue.

Sisi followed and muttered, “Men are so strange. Just over a drink?”

“Also, didn’t he even give you to me as a gift?”

“...”

Zhao Changhe chuckled. “There is one more thing...”

Sisi immediately said, “Could it be Tang Wanzhuang? Master, do you really have some sort of relationship with her?”

“Where did you get the idea? She did not even give me a glance. Do you really think I’m that desperate?” Zhao Changhe said leisurely. “No...it’s because I don’t want this beautiful Gusu to become another Realm of True Void of the Maitreya Cult. We’ve learned martial arts, and there are always things for us to do.”

“Don’t we learn martial arts to improve our own lives?”

“Do you see the afterglow of the setting sun?”

“Huh?”

“That afterglow is not only Yue Hongling, but also me, Zhao Changhe.”

*

After leaving Tiger Hill Sword Pond and returning to the guest house for dinner, a figure flashed past. It was Ji Chengkong. He was right outside his door. “The guards of the Tang Clan are much more lax compared to the Lu Clan. It’s as easy to get in as a toilet. I was wrong to think that the Tang Clan would be more capable.”

Zhao Changhe asked, “Is the Lu Clan heavily guarded?”

“Yes. I nearly even thought that I was at the Demon Suppression Bureau. Luckily, although they do have a lot of guards, they are quite lacking in skill, so I was able to gather some information,” said Ji Chengkong. He sat down at the table as if they were old acquaintances, and continued, “Do you have any wine? After lurking around for so long, I’m parched.”

Sisi lowered her head and poured him a cup of tea.

Ji Chengkong glanced at her again. Her figure did resemble the person he was looking for. Although he did not recognize her face, the person he was looking for was a master of disguise... However, there were many people with similar figures. Even Yue Hongling had a similar figure to the person he was looking for. If he were to use that as a reason, he would only offend Zhao Changhe unnecessarily. With that in mind, he simply let her be.

He was not too bothered by it. He directly said, “According to my investigation, the Lu Clan has a forbidden area, with security much stricter than the so-called forbidden area of the Tang Clan. It can’t be entered merely with a token or some password. You need to be of the main lineage of the Lu Clan to be allowed passage. It’s quite strange indeed. They are far more secretive than a clan their size should be.”

Zhao Changhe smiled and said, “They have someone at the ninth layer of the Profound Gate right at home. That’s someone who has already gotten a glimpse of the Profound Mysteries. With someone like that, they can’t be considered a small clan.”

“If they aren’t on the rankings, then they’re just rubbish.” Ji Chengkong pointed at his own nose. “I’m at the sixth layer of the Profound Gate, and you were only at the fourth layer back then. Even then, I could not dodge a punch from you. This just goes to show the gap between someone who is on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons, like you, and someone who isn’t, like me.”

“Brother Ji, your strength does not lie in combat. You said it yourself: if you were to suddenly use a dagger or even a poison needle, I dare not say that I would not fall in your hands.”

Ji Chengkong nodded slightly, feeling a little pleased with the comment. “That’s right, everyone has their own strengths. Anyway, I did not find anything useful, and there was no fun to be had. I’ve taken your deposit, and that’s already enough. I don’t have the face to ask for more. If there isn’t anything else you need, then I’ll be taking my leave.”

“Wait, brother Ji,” Zhao Changhe followed after him. “There’s something I’ve been wanting to ask you...”

Sisi tensed up instantly.