Chapter 219: Billowing Sands

Chapter 219: Billowing Sands

Above a canal, Tang Wanzhuang sat in a cabin reading a book. Suddenly, she looked up at the golden characters in the sky. Her tranquil expression involuntarily turned somewhat melancholic, then complex.

What she was reading was actually a letter spread out on a book, the letter being the report for the Langya Sword Conference that her subordinate had mentioned to her the day before.

The report was much more complete and detailed than the outline that her subordinate gave her. It included the process of Xia Chichi and Cui Yuanyang’s participation, accompanied by the notes “suspected of vying for the treasure for Zhao Changhe” and “suspected of jealousy,” respectively. There was also an evaluation: “Both have talents rarely seen in a century, not inferior to Yue Hongling’s.”

It did not omit Zhao Changhe’s remark: “If it means that some people can cough less, then it’s worth it.”

Of course, nobody dared to attach additional analyses and evaluations to that line.

Tang Wanzhuang’s face reddened slightly. She pursed her lips, her gaze remaining fixed on that line, not moving away for a long time.

He did it... for some people to cough less.

Scorning nobles and royalty, he had cleaved someone on the Ranking of Man. He, who already faced much too many dangers just to survive, had now offended two powerful forces in the north and the south. Trouble would surely follow, trouble that was even more nerve-wracking than when he first ventured out of Beimang.

However, Tang Wanzhuang knew that he did not care. Instead, she felt that he might even be drinking and singing, completely at ease.

Whether it was the incident in Yangzhou, the one in Gusu, the slaying of Fa Sheng in the middle of his military camp, or the death of Fa Qing in front of the Wang Clan.... If one said that such a massive force as the Maitreya Cult had been thrown into disarray by Zhao Changhe alone, while it might be a bit exaggerated, it was not without reason.

Fa Qing was a high-level combat force. How many experts on the Ranking of Man could a single Maitreya Cult possibly have? Losing even one of them was a heavy blow. And the worst thing was that his death did not even stand out among the other problems caused by Zhao Changhe. Yangzhou was the northern bridgehead of Jiangbei, Gusu was the domain of the Tang Clan, and Fa Sheng was a skilled general. The Maitreya Cult’s plans for these regions had immense strategic importance, but they had lost everything.

Originally, the Maitreya Cult’s uprising was very similar to the Yellow Turban Rebellion recorded in the history of the Eastern Han dynasty. Had they been able to sweep through Jiangnan and render the imperial court powerless, they could have then relied on the suppression of bandits by the local gentry. An example of such a case was the Tang Clan. If allowed to develop further, it would lead to the rise of various warlords, each with their own armed forces.

If one said that the Maitreya Cult was the harbinger of the rise of kings, then Zhao Changhe’s actions had brought about their downfall in advance. Before local military forces even had the chance to rise, the Maitreya Cult’s forces had already been taken down, and the chaos that had ensued during the Han dynasty would not repeat, at least for now.

He said that he had no intentions of ruling the world, but his actions were moving in that direction.

Whether for the common people or for... her, Tang Wanzhuang.

“Come in,” she suddenly said.

The guqin-carrying maid entered and stood beside her timidly. “Miss?”

“Pass on this secret order of mind to all the major states and counties. Wherever Zhao Changhe goes, listen to his commands without hesitation. Spare no effort to ensure his safety”

“Miss...”

“What? Do you think he would even appreciate it?” Tang Wanzhuang suddenly laughed. “I’m afraid that he probably prefers the excitement and tension he’s under right now, riding through the desert, maybe even accompanied by a beautiful companion.... Why would he want us to interfere?”

The guqin-carrying maid muttered, “So, are we going to play the cold shoulder game? Especially with regard to that so-called beautiful companion, miss, you....”

“This is not for him, but for the world. Go.”

With a pout, the guqin-carrying maid left the cabin to pass on the order. Tang Wanzhuang stood up, walked to the window, and watched the river flow quietly.

You see the ferries where the sands are washed, wondering how many people through this worldly realm have passed.[1]

*

Whoosh!

A sword light rose from the side of the road and flew toward him.

The group of black-clad assassins disappeared without a trace in an instant.

Well, of course they did. Who in their right mind at their levels would try to force things and face off against someone at the ninth layer of the Profound Gate? They’re assassins, not a suicide squad.

It was best for them to report back to their pavilion master and see if they should send stronger assassins. It seemed that handling this man surnamed Zhao was far beyond the reach of ordinary people.

Zhao Changhe watched them retreat into the distance. “Their movement art is really good. If I had not learned the Water Treading Art, I might have considered learning from them.”

After saying that, he dismounted and greeted Yuan Xing respectfully, “Thank you for your assistance, Master Yuan Xing.”

“I see no fear in you at all. It seems I was merely intrusive instead.”

“Not at all, I was actually waiting for you.” Zhao Changhe secretly thought to himself: Well, I was actually waiting for Vermillion Bird.... But I’m kinda moved by the fact that you still chased after me despite the Wang Clan. Maybe the Buddhist sects in this world aren’t so bad after all?

“Before I came out, I had a brief conversation with Benefactor Situ, who mentioned that you were looking for methods to temper your body and methods to release qi outside your body?”

Zhao Changhe’s eyes lit up. “Yes, that’s right. Your golden bell....”

“The Golden Bell Barrier is not allowed to be spread outside, but I do have some information that I believe you would want to hear.”

“Oh?”

“You must have just used some kind of treasure to improve your body, and the aura has yet to completely disperse. I have encountered a similar aura before and I wanted to explore it back then, but due to certain reasons, I did not go through with it.”

Zhao Changhe was stunned for a moment, then overjoyed.

Does this mean that the marine clay can actually also be found somewhere on land? Perhaps I might even find something more incredible. It doesn’t even matter whether it can continue to benefit my meridians, tempering my body is definitely the right move!

Sure enough, good deeds are always rewarded. Zhao Changhe cupped his fist and said, “I won’t hide it from you, I am indeed in great need of that. Please tell me its whereabouts.”

Yuan Xing sighed and said, “It would have been easier to go there before, but it’s a bit more troublesome now. During my time wandering among the snow-capped mountains of the Grasslands, to the north, I stumbled upon a similar aura on one of the peaks. But now, in times of conflict, I would advise you against moving hastily. It would be best to wait until things settle down before heading there.”

As he spoke. he handed something over from his robe and said, “This is something I made for myself at that time to help return to that place. Now, I’m giving it to you.”

Zhao Changhe cupped his hand again. “Thank you.”

Yuan Xing returned the gesture and replied, “Benefactor Zhao, you are truly compassionate and like a true Buddha. You are welcome to stay at the Huayan Temple anytime in the future.”

After Zhao Changhe exchanged pleasantries with the other monks, they left.

Zhao Changhe watched the monks leave and suddenly said, “If Master Yuan Xing had not arrived in time, would you have intervened?”

The surroundings were silent, with no response from Vermillion Bird.

Zhao Changhe was a little puzzled. Is Vermillion Bird not following me anymore?

Little did he know that less than three li away in the forest, Wang Daozhong was retreating rapidly, his head covered in bruises. “Venerable Vermillion Bird, our two forces have already formed an alliance. We should turn the page on past grievances. Why are you attacking me again?”

Vermillion Bird said lazily, “Seeing you reminds me of that demon who once swore to retaliate against me for every grievance. It’s hard for my hands to not feel a little itchy when I see you. This is a grudge between us, what has it got to do with the alliance of our forces?”

Wang Daozhong almost spat out blood, swearing never to argue with women again.

1. This is a reference to Tang Dynasty poet Liu Yuxi’s “Billowing Sands” (浪淘沙·汴水东流虎眼纹). ☜