Chaotic World Book
Chapter 214 - 209 Wang Zhaoqing

Chapter 214: Chapter 209 Wang Zhaoqing

This martial arts discussion, starting from when Situ Xiao broke through the doors, lasted an entire day.

Led by Situ Xiao and the Zhao Changhe family, the tournament structure and rules completely turned into an afterthought. Those who came after fought whoever they wanted to, choosing either to match their level of power for a fair fight, or fully unleash their strength to see how many they could defeat—freedom and spontaneity prevailed in the end.

The so-called method of determining rankings by the number of wins, if there was no host to keep count, this rule could easily be forgotten amid the chaos—who knew how many matches each person had won?

Thus, even that rule was abandoned. In any case, apart from Zhao Changhe, no one else was really so eager for that prize.

They were not the lowest ranks in Worldly Society, and each person capable of being a Hidden Dragon was exceptionally talented. Besides a certain Zhao who was troubled by his meridians... If there were any dramatic improvements to be made in the meridians, then perhaps there would be more interest. But a "slight expansion"? There was little interest.

What people truly cared about was the battle itself.

This was the essence of mutual verification and sparring, non-utilitarian and purpose-free – the true meaning of a youth martial contest.

Situ Xiao couldn’t help but enter the fight again, creating a fervent atmosphere. In the end, everyone joined together for a dinner banquet and drank themselves into a stupor.

Zhao Changhe sighed with regret.

He wanted to participate badly; probably the most eager of them all. Not only was there great value in the experience, but fighting with everyone could have allowed him a replay with the "Heavenly Book"... Regrettably, he could not participate, even forsaking the crucial reward that mattered so dearly to him.

Xia Chichi left early and did not attend the dinner banquet.

Everyone is limited by their social status, unable to fully do whatever they desired.

Zhao Changhe sat there drinking sullenly when Wang Zhaoqing came over with a liquor pot, poured him a cup, and said, "Shall we talk?"

Cui Yuanyang perked up her ears nearby.

Wang Zhaoqing glanced at her, gave no quarter, and continued speaking to Zhao Changhe, "Just the two of us, shall we go for a walk?"

Cui Yuanyang tried to follow.

Wang Zhaoqing sighed in resignation, "Keep playing your distant act in front of others then, don’t waste your father’s painstaking efforts. It’s plain to the Wang Family; but in the eyes of others, it matters. In a way, this is also your uncle pushing Zhao brother, though I think Zhao brother hardly needs it. But you should understand your father’s thought..."

Cui Yuanyang: "..."

"You shouldn’t even have fought in the matches, but..." Wang Zhaoqing looked at his own left palm, shook his head, and chuckled, "Since you have the ability, it is right you did. ’A youth needs to make a name; wine needs to intoxicate; mastering martial arts always warrants a display before the world.’ Otherwise, what use are luxury and leisure, who did you endure hardships for in your training?"

Cui Yuanyang said, "Hey, when did you start lecturing?"

"It’s just that I find today quite boring... Maybe others found it enjoyable, but I feel like a clown," Wang Zhaoqing smiled. "Look, even now, Situ Kuangge drinks heartily, and Xuan Chong laughs loudly, but what are we doing? It’s meaningless, really meaningless. I suddenly understand why Zhao brother refuses to acknowledge his status."

Finally, Zhao Changhe said, "But you still have things to do, right?"

Wang Zhaoqing was silent for a moment but then made a beckoning gesture, "Shall we walk?"

"Alright." Zhao Changhe rose to his full height, and this time Cui Yuanyang pursed her lips and finally did not follow.

The summer night was hot, but the Wang Family’s residence was cool.

Artificial streams surrounded the area, waterfalls cascaded down from rocks, splashing droplets around, and pavilions spread out all around, each facing the refreshing moisture of the air, making Zhao Changhe feel as though he had returned to the Shexi of Gusu, not the lands of Qilu.

The sounds of drinking and noise from the banquet hall gradually faded, seeming otherworldly.

Even compared to the heated battles just before and the cool pavilions with green lotuses now, it felt like another world.

Wang Zhaoqing leaned on the pavilion railing, looking down at the lotus leaves in the pond below, and after a long while said, "You say some bleed and toil, guarding this land, while we live trivially, scheming for ourselves... But why don’t you help her? Is it fear of getting caught in bigger disputes, or are you also just looking out for yourself?"

"All of them," Zhao Changhe said calmly, "but the main reason is that I have no desire to protect the reign of the Xia Family, it’s irrelevant to me. Admiring loyal officials and good generals is one thing, but risking myself is another."

Wang Zhaoqing nodded, "We have analyzed your attitude as well, and it’s quite apparent – you do not hide it."

"Indeed," said Zhao Changhe. "So, what is it that you want to discuss with me?"

"Have you ever thought that many of today’s problems are self-inflicted by His Majesty, and that if we were to change houses, this so-called chaotic era might come to an end very quickly?"

"Perhaps. But may I ask Brother Wang a question?"

"Please do."

"With His Majesty’s strength, he initially had to rely on various families’ cooperation, which ultimately led to the Aristocratic Families and major sects each controlling their own territory. I can’t believe that someone like him wouldn’t want to suppress everything, but he couldn’t, right?"

"That’s true. There are always compromises to be made, it’s not something personal Martial Arts prowess can decide."

"The best in the world may not be able to decide everything," Zhao Changhe said, "but the best can deter a lot. If His Majesty had gone all out to seize Maitreya’s head, I reckon Maitreya wouldn’t be able to withstand. The Hu shaman dare not enter the frontier, it’s not the garrison at Yanmen they fear, but him. There are still many loyal officials and good generals serving loyally, because they still hold expectations in him. The chaotic era’s curtain has not been fully drawn not because of any significant effectiveness of Tang Wanzhuang’s past efforts, but because he is still alive."

"Right."

Back then, Cui Wenjing also taught Cui Yuanyang—did they really think it was the Emperor who didn’t handle things, with Tang Wanju alone supporting the intrique? Were they reading a storybook?

"Your father is only the tenth on the Heavenly List, and even if he concealed his strength, it’s unlikely he could defeat the Great Hu Shaman. Nowadays, I perceive that even the Wang Family’s influence may not guarantee victory over the Cui Family, with various provocations from Situ also swallowed quietly, fearing conflict with the Divine Brilliance Sect. This frustration, if it really led you to success, would that not result in another unstable dynamic where the strong lead the weak? It might not even be better than those tarnished rumors about him."

Wang Zhaoqing shook his head slightly, "Brother Zhao, you’re oversimplifying things. The matters of the court are not calculated like this. As for my behavior, perhaps you have some misunderstandings—in our eyes, no matter how powerful a Sect is, it’s considered nothing more than a bunch of bandits, irrelevant to economics and military. I’m not afraid of Situ, nor is my father afraid of Li Shentong. Rather than saying I dare not offend Situ, it’s better to say that I am leveraging the situation. Situ has actually furthered what I want."

"Okay..." Zhao Changhe paused, then suddenly asked, "But why are you so hasty?"

This time, Wang Zhaoqing fell silent and did not answer.

A wise man knows when to stop; Zhao Changhe did not continue.

No matter from which angle, the Cui Family’s actions better fit the true thinking of an Aristocratic Family; the actions of the Wang Family were quite puzzling. Even if they truly intended to replace Xia, why not wait a few years? There must be underlying reasons. Whether their ascent would indeed bring a quicker end to the era of turmoil or give rise to new ripples was yet unknown.

Of course, they were currently in only the first stage of testing the waters, and whether they would take the next step remained uncertain. Precisely because it was only this stage, Wang Zhaoqing was talking to Zhao Changhe, trying to persuade him to lean their way. When the phase of outright defiance came, Zhao Changhe might not even dare to step into Langya.

In other words, the actions of the Wang Family could potentially be stopped. Zhao Changhe was somewhat interested in testing this, as he believed Wang Zhaoqing was not actually that bad...

But then Wang Zhaoqing slowly spoke, "This vast and beautiful land, who wouldn’t want it? Whether slowly or quickly, there are reasons for either, no need to say more. I know what you’re thinking, Zhao brother, but there’s no need to say it, although I was momentarily stirred by the heat of Martial Arts just now, that’s temporary. The position of Crown Prince, you don’t want it, but I do."

Zhao Changhe was speechless.

Right, if the Wang Family succeeded, this guy really would be the Crown Prince.

"Everyone has their ambitions, that’s all," Wang Zhaoqing suddenly chuckled. "Hey, do you think I qualify?"

Zhao Changhe nodded, "Putting aside everything else, your composure is quite adequate."

Wang Zhaoqing laughed loudly, "Considering that, I’ll give you a heads up. Our family discussed whether to assassinate you, as long as it wasn’t known to be the doing of the Wang Family... Up to now, the consensus is to win you over first, but with your current attitude, from here on out, you and I are likely to be enemies, and it’s probably going to be a fight to the death."

Zhao Changhe found this interesting: "And you’re actually telling me this?"

"Tell you, you don’t have proof it’s my Wang Family doing it, right? Are you going to run to Cui Yuanyang crying?" Wang Zhaoqing chuckled. "As for why I’m telling you... you can think of it as our Aristocratic Family’s habit, tying a good karma, so that if things go wrong, you might spare a trace of my legacy, how about that?"

Zhao Changhe widened his eyes, "You think so highly of me? I couldn’t decide a damn thing about that!"

"It’s called an investment, whether there’s a return beyond vision also depends on luck," Wang Zhaoqing patted Zhao Changhe’s shoulder. "That treasure for expanding meridians, I’ll give it to you as a favor from me. Why should it go to Xia Chichi and Cui Yuanyang?"