Chapter 226: Rumors

Name:Tome of Troubled Times Author:
Chapter 226: Rumors

Splash~

There were some people who had come in search of the ancient sword currently standing by the lakeside. Suddenly, two heads that looked like those of pigs emerged from the water, scaring them out of their wits and causing them to run in fear.

Who wouldn’t run in such a scenario?! Two pigs popping out of a lake was weird enough, but one of them was even emitting smoke all around it, looking like a real monster! Alll latest novels on novelbin/(.)com

Vermillion Bird burst out into laughter, finding the scene very amusing.

Zhao Changhe gave her a glance, filled with regret.

When he had entered the sword chamber, his mind had been focused on sensing the residual sword intent from when Han Wubing had stayed in the chamber. With that, he had pretty much forgotten about her, and he had not even gotten to take a good look at her. It was quite hot lately, so most people were wearing thin clothes. Just how hot would a mature lady’s wet body look like after she had entered the water?

And now, as soon as she emerged, she dried her clothes with her true qi, leaving nothing to be seen....

Is everyone at the ninth layer of the Profound Gate really this amazing?

At the moment, Zhao Changhe could only dry his body with his true qi. He was far from being able to dry his clothes. Even if he did eventually advance his cultivation to the point where he could dry his clothes, he highly doubted that he would be able to dry them instantly like her, evaporating all of the water in contact with her body.

Vermillion Bird said, “What’s with that look in your eyes? Are you regretting not taking a look at me in the sword chamber just now?”

“No, no, I’m admiring your cultivation.”

“We cultivate fire-attribute true qi, so things like this are naturally not that difficult for us.” Vermillion Bird smiled. “We’re not like you and some others who practice the Spring Water Intent, always getting yourselves wet for no reason.”

Zhao Changhe rolled his eyes. Why do I feel like shots are being fired at me?

Vermillion Bird casually continued, “Being all wet like that isn’t comfortable, huh? Want me to help you out?”

“If you’d be so kind.”

“Call me big sister first.”

Is that where you were trying to get to? Zhao Changhe could not help but snort. He did not hesitate, and said coquettishly, “Big sister~”

Seeing the pig-masked head in front of her calling her “big sister” in that weird voice, Vermillion Bird almost burst out laughing. She tried suppressing it, but she finally bent over and clutched her stomach as she laughed. “Hahahaha...”

Zhao Changhe looked at her speechlessly.

This big sister seems to be laughing more and more as time passes. She’s changed from when we first met. It’s as if after taking off the serpent mask and putting on the pig mask, she’s let go of a lot of things.

Zhao Changhe’s immediate reaction was skepticism. “Absorbed?”

Wei Zicai smiled faintly and said, “Yes... So whether or not it really was Han Wubing who killed Ji Yinan is still unconfirmed. There is a possibility that it was Yan Lianping’s doing instead. By framing Han Wubing, he could then gather the strength of both factions to go against Han Wubing in an attempt to force out the location of the ancient sword and the source of his new sword art. At the same time, he could also absorb the Xingyi Gang, killing two birds with one stone.”

This was something to be expected from the jianghu. Zhao Changhe and Vermillion Bird, who had just recently been discussing high-level politics when it came to the Wang Clan, now felt as if they had left the imperial court to enter the jianghu. They both felt as if they were in a different world.

But to be honest, this was what they preferred. At least Zhao Changhe was far more interested in such matters than the grand affairs of the state.

Hearing that Han Wubing had only fled and nothing serious actually happened to him, Zhao Changhe felt a lot more at ease. He asked again, “Han Wubing should have been living in seclusion. Why did he suddenly expose a new sword art and get in a conflict with a gang? Did he arouse suspicion by occasionally appearing and disappearing in the city?”

“Han Wubing occasionally appeared in the city to purchase food supplies, and these are very normal activities. He behaved similarly when he secluded himself by the lake, and no one really paid attention to him,” Wei Zicai explained. “His new sword art only ended up getting revealed due to a matter involving Zhao Changhe”

Zhao Changhe was stunned. “How did Zhao Changhe end up involved in this? Please elaborate.”

“Some people spread rumors that Zhao Changhe’s physique and broad saber did not resemble those of the Central Plains, saying that it was possible that he was a spy from the Grasslands, possibly being the illegitimate son of Mad Lion He Lei. Han Wubing overheard this while purchasing supplies, got angry, and fought with the person whom he had heard spreading the rumor. It was then that he revealed sword arts beyond those that could be learned from the Sword Pavilion, causing people to suspect that he had found some secrets in the sword lake.”

Zhao Changhe fell silent for a moment.

Vermillion Bird glanced at Zhao Changhe. This guy and his friends are really loyal. Since Han Wubing managed to flee and seems to be fine, it might not have been necessary to dig deeper into the matter. But now, it seems like it will be impossible for him to ignore this.

Zhao Changhe took a deep breath. “His Majesty used this kind of saber during his conquests, so where do people even get the idea of a certain style being of the Grasslands? Are there really people who believe such nonsense?”

“There are many fools in the world. If someone says something, there will always be people who believe it,” Wei Zicai said. “In addition, the spreading of these rumors may have deeper intentions behind. I wrote a letter to the bureau head a couple of days ago. Now that you are here, Special Envoy, it’s even better than I hoped...”

Zhao Changhe frowned. Yes, his background was actually a very sensitive matter. In other words, this rumor could be meant to fundamentally shake his position as the heir to the throne of the Great Xia, and this sounded an awful lot like something the Four Idols Cult would do.

He turned to look at Vermillion Bird, who met his gaze coldly. Zhao Changhe smiled and shook his head. Of course, it wouldn’t be the Four Idols Cult. Times had changed, and the Four Idols Cult was even planning to recruit him into their cult. Doing such a thing would serve no purpose for them, and would perhaps be even detrimental.

It could be the Wang Clan, Maitreya Cult, or simply a foreign force.

“When did this happen?”

“Three days ago.”

If it’s three days ago, then the Wang Clan is the most likely suspect, and this place isn’t too far from Langya.

However, while the exposure of new martial arts knowledge that Han Wubing had acquired might be related to this, the trouble involving the Xingyi Gang and the Pinghu Association might not be directly related to it. There could be other factors at play, and Han Wubing could have been involved in other conflicts.

Sword Lake City was truly an anomaly, and there were bound to be secrets hidden all over.

After contemplating for a while, Zhao Changhe suddenly asked, “Why is the structure of Sword Lake City the way it is? Can you elaborate on that, Delegate Wei?”