Chaotic World Book
Chapter 187 - 183: How Could It Exclude Me?

Chapter 187: Chapter 183: How Could It Exclude Me?

The night was dark and windy.

On the eastern shore of Tai Lake, an army of thousands was drinking water and cooking by the lakeside. The military discipline was not very strict, and there was noisy chatter, which seemed very loud in the quiet of the night.

However, compared to the disorderly armies of Yangzhou and Gusu that Zhao Changhe had seen before, this was already considered a well-organized elite force.

It was the vanguard army led by Bodhisattva Fa Sheng.

The so-called "Bodhisattva" was not a title of Fa Sheng, but a rank within the Maitreya Sect, meaning he had taken many lives—the "Bodhisattva" also referred to a state of enlightenment, and taking any more lives would mean becoming a Buddha... Fa Yuan’s earlier expectation for Zhao Changhe was that he could achieve the level of Bodhisattva.

Fa Sheng had just entered Wuxing yesterday and had only rested for a day and a night when Tang Buqi was worried about when he would attack; in fact, he had already taken advantage of the night to bypass the lake and head directly to Gusu.

There were additional naval forces on the lake, advancing both by water and land.

Though termed "vanguard," leading not so many, looking at the unstoppable momentum of Fa Sheng’s forces in the past few days, they had directly stormed and broken through cities, hardly meeting any worthy resistance.

This was partly because in the cities, including officials and civilians everywhere were members of their Maitreya Sect, and partly because the Jiangnan army was more helpless than a mob. At such a time, it was actually the aristocratic families from various regions that showed some resistance, as they looked down on the Maitreya Sect.

But such resistance was of little use; those families were merely good-for-nothings who only knew how to eat, drink, and bully men and women. Before the army arrived, each boasted loudly that they would personally decapitate a follower of Maitreya and present the head to His Majesty; but when the troops were at their gates, everyone’s legs turned softer than shrimp.

Thus, Fa Sheng had them all completely exterminated, and the waters of Jiangnan had turned bloody.

"Strong army" was thus forged from unabated victories. Initially, when the uprising began, they were nothing more than a chaotic mob who had learned a bit of fighting, but after several victories and equipping themselves from various arsenals, they began to exhibit some fierce and rigorous military presence.

"Bodhisattva," inside the military tent, Fa Sheng was studying a topographical map at the desk, while a sect follower reported, "The scouts have returned, reporting that Gusu has fortified itself and cleared the fields, ignoring even the autumn harvest. There are no dogs to be found in the villages outside."

"Tang Wanju had stayed in Gusu for many days before; naturally, she had made preparations," Fa Sheng, a formidable burly monk with a face full of beard resembling Lu Zhishen, yet had a demeanor quite stable, "It’s a pity Tang Wanju can’t be there in person, she needs to stay in Jinling and keep mutual check with the Sect Hierarch. The affairs in Gusu, now handled by Tang Wangsheng and the likes, are likely to waste much of her effort."

Someone offered an analysis, "Gusu still has notable figures, it’s said that Tang Wangsheng and others have reached the Mystical Gate Ninth Layer... Bodhisattva, with just this handful of our troops, and no strong figures overseeing, if someone desperately attempts an assassination..."

Fa Sheng waved his hand dismissively, "Gusu has no Grandmasters of the Human List. Tang Wangsheng does not have that kind of ability. Don’t be fooled by the Mystical Gate Ninth Layer, if they really come assassinating, a few volleys of chaotic arrows would turn him into a porcupine. The Buddhist in Jiangbei was killed by Xia Chichi because we had little influence there, and our Buddhist seat was restrained by the strong figures of the Four Symbols Sect, a reversal of strength—it’s not the same scenario."

Pausing for a moment, he then said, "Even someone as strong as Tang Wanju doesn’t dare to recklessly venture into danger; once entangled by the Sect Hierarch, surrounded by thousands of troops, she would fall here. Similarly, the Sect Hierarch cannot just break into Gusu to decapitate Tang Wangsheng— who knows what kind of traps Tang Wanju might have? Any movement must be absolutely prepared; war isn’t determined just by having a strong figure. Gentlemen, this is where we hold our value."

Everyone nodded in agreement.

True powerhouses who could move freely within a great army were not so common... at least Gusu did not have freaks like Chi Li or Yue Hongling.

A strategist said, "The recent incident with the Lu Family has already shown that the Gusu military force is slack, and they lack commanders capable of battle. However, the various families in Gusu might be more determined, and there’s likely enough stocked grain within the city, making it capable of organizing servants to defend the city—not easy to attack."

"This is precisely why I chose a night raid. They lack a respected leader and sufficient war experience; they’re probably still considering how to utilize the terrain to set up defenses... Once we suddenly appear before the city, they’ll likely panic, and here lies our opportunity. We can’t afford to slowly wait for the rest of the army and drag this out; otherwise, they might actually become more cohesive as a military force, making them even harder to defeat."

If Tang Buqi were here, he would likely feel a chill down his spine.

Fa Sheng almost clearly guessed his own thoughts as well as the current situation of each family. They were indeed allocating defensive zones, waiting for an offense and defense exchange with the Maitreya Sect.

Once the night attack unfolded below the city, the Tang family’s reaction was hard to predict, while confusion among the other families was almost inevitable.

"Enough, let’s not talk about this." Fa Sheng pointed at the map, "Gentlemen, look here, the east bank of Tai Lake, is..."

Before he finished, a hurried voice came from outside the tent: "Bodhisattva, Bodhisattva, someone outside the camp reported that there has been an incident in the lake where a water ghost drilled holes in boats, causing one to sink, suspected to be a sneak attack by troops from Gusu!"

"Does Gusu still possess such characters?" Fa Sheng and the other generals and strategists were surprised as they walked out of the tent, indeed seeing a fire blazing in the distance on the lake’s surface, with shouts of alarm and anger creating chaos.

"Where is the person who reported this?" Fa Sheng asked, "Take me to ask about the situation."

The reporter was waiting by the reeds outside the camp gates, a tall, young man with an ordinary appearance. Despite his height, he was somewhat emaciated and malnourished, drenched all over, clearly having just scrambled out of the water, and he held no weapon in his hand, appearing quite disheveled.

Fa Sheng took a glance and wasn’t suspicious, such young men were quite common in the army, so he asked, "Tell me in detail, what exactly happened in the lake? How many water ghosts came, and since you went into the water, did you engage in combat?"

The young man’s voice trembled slightly, "Bodhisattva, many people came from the opposite side, it was dark under the water, I didn’t dare to go over, I desperately swam to the shore..."

Fa Sheng pondered for a moment then instructed those nearby, "Gather archers by the camp shore for readiness, do not leave the camp lightly, and be wary of a raid. Also, send scouts forward to reconnoiter."

Then looking somewhat suspiciously at the young man he continued, "Tang Wangsheng has this capability, how can I not believe it?"

The young man looked bewildered, completely clueless about what had been said.

His gaze unintentionally swept over the camp, observing that most of the archers prepared by the camp gate had shifted to the shore.

Fa Sheng was saying, "Wait a moment, perform the Immovable Ming King Seal for me to see."

The young man indeed formed the Immovable Ming King Seal, "Is, is it like this, Bodhisattva? I’m not very familiar..."

This was one of the fundamental Dharma Seals of Buddhism, extensively found in various scriptures, something a Maitreya Sect follower should know, but it was also quite normal for an ordinary follower who had not undergone full monastic rites to perform it imperfectly, not raising any suspicion.

The generals next to him felt that Fa Sheng was being overly suspicious. With a ship incident happening in the lake, why bother about whether a messenger’s seal was formed correctly or not...

However, Fa Sheng also felt there was nothing amiss, he laughed and in a display of humility, personally reached out to correct the young man’s hand seal, "Don’t stiffen the thumb like that, it should be like this..."

At this moment, the seemingly honest and straightforward young man’s hand seal suddenly changed.

His fingertips moved as if picking flowers or brushing against willows, mimicking a Heavenly Girl blossoming a lotus, softly unfolding.

Both Fa Sheng and the onlookers saw only a blur of his fingers, too late to react, already brushed the Lieque acupoint on Fa Sheng’s wrist.

Moreover, he was particularly knowledgeable about their Maitreya Sect... This Fuxue Hand wasn’t just a mere brush on Lieque, it actually moved along the Taiyin Lung Meridian, brushing through the points above and below Lieque, ensuring a hit regardless of any position shifts.

Instantly, half of Fa Sheng’s body went numb, he retreated hastily and shouted, "It’s an assassin!"

The people on either side finally reacted, with swords and knives drawn, all aiming for the young man’s head.

However, he slightly misstepped with elegant movements to the right, his foot hooked, and a broadsword hidden in the reeds leaped into his palm.

"Roar!"

As the sword rose, the wind screamed!

With a clang, several longswords surrounding him were chopped in half. Zhao Changhe stepped on the broken swords, leapt into the air, and pursued Fa Sheng, who was retreating drastically.

"Zhao Changhe, it’s fucking Zhao Changhe!"

Fa Sheng was so furious he almost vomited blood. When did Zhao Changhe learn to disguise himself and use such girlish Fuxue Hand techniques? Without any scars or sword marks, who could have imagined this was fucking Zhao Changhe!

He actually dared to attack the camp suddenly and aimed to decapitate the main general!

A dark shadow soared across the sky, obscuring the moonlight.

The furious blade slashed, eyes blood-red.

The Dragon Sparrow roared, Evil Qi soaring to the sky.

Fa Sheng’s right side went numb, and he strugglefully drew his Vow Blade with his left hand to defend; countless blades, lances, swords, and halberds stabbed at Zhao Changhe from all sides; the archers who had been diverted back to the camp drew their bows and prepared to shoot.

If a painter were here, this would surely be framed as a God Demon painting.

"Crack!"

The grating sound of clashing blades echoed through the night.

The Vow Blade mysteriously failed to block the attack; Dragon Sparrow seemed to slide past, a mysterious blood streak appeared on Fa Sheng’s forehead, dying without understanding how Zhao Changhe’s ’Shatter Both Gods and Buddhas’ technique had transformed into a sliding blade technique... wasn’t it ’Shatter Both Gods and Buddhas’?

Was it some awkward style of swordsmanship?

A long spear grazed past Zhao Changhe’s rib, drawing a spray of blood.

Zhao Changhe, moving as if atop waves, deftly dodged two more blades aimed at his neck, swung his sword back, decapitating the spear holder, blood gushing wildly.

"With a whistle," the sounds of galloping hooves intensified from the side, a black horse with white hooves dashed like lightning.

Zhao Changhe blocked another spear, suddenly kicked another commander in the chest, leapt sideways through the air, and expertly landed on the horse.

The black horse neighed and vanished into the night.

Countless arrows flew from behind, Zhao Changhe dodged sideways, deflecting several arrows with his sword, laughing out loud, "Followers of Maitreya selling their heads like the ten stages Bodhisattvas, Maitreya’s military formation is nothing much! Until we meet again!"

"Boom!" Flames surged in the lake, a boat that had been ignited earlier completely sank.

The entire military camp descended into chaos.

"Master Tang, why are you walking back and forth like this?"

"I am restless." At the Gusu city wall, Tang Buqi paced back and forth, watching the divided guards engaging in battles: "Could Fa Sheng launch a night raid?"

"You’re overthinking it, Fa Sheng just entered Wuxing yesterday; his mere vanguard isn’t large, they’ll have to wait for the main force."

"... yet when they entered Wuxing, they didn’t wait for the main force from Hangzhou."

"The followers of Maitreya breached the stronghold, wouldn’t they plunder and rape for a few days first? How could they directly come..."

Tang Buqi continued pacing, still uneasy, turned to ask Wu Weiyang: "Auntie, do you have any other special instructions?"

Wu Weiyang sighed, "Since the leader entrusted this to you, sir, you should make decisions independently, how could everything still require the leader’s direction. If these people are noisy, sir should try to command... we’re here, you’re not fighting alone, feel free to give orders."

An observer scoffed, "What if no one attacks?"

As Tang Buqi was about to speak, a streak of gold flashed across the sky.

Everyone was stunned and looked up. Has the Chaotic World Book been updated quite frequently recently?

"June 7th, midnight. Zhao Changhe launched a night raid at the Tai Lake military camp, slaying Fa Sheng, a Bodhisattva of Maitreya Sect, at the camp gates, and galloping back on his horse, none of Maitreya’s generals could stop him."

"There’s a change on the Hidden Dragon List."

"Hidden Dragon eighteen, Zhao Changhe."

"The Star River hangs in the sky, how could I not be part of it!"

Tang Buqi squinted at the surrounding families: "What do you guys think Fa Sheng’s Tai Lake military camp was for?"

The crowd exchanged glances, opened their mouths but then closed them again.

Tang Buqi whispered, "I’m still lacking... when the time comes, it’s the stage for people like Zhao Changhe."

In these times, as the barbarians headed south to knock at the fortresses, Maitreya rose in Jiangnan, heroes were set to rise, and the world was in chaos.

Winds stirred and dragons and snakes emerged from the land.

[End of Volume Two]