Chaotic World Book
Chapter 222 - 217: The Hunt

Chapter 222: Chapter 217: The Hunt

These were just ordinary monks, and since the Maitreya Sect didn’t have any special attire, it was hard to distinguish them. Buddhism was in decline in this world, but that didn’t mean monks were a rarity.

However, near Langya and Taishan, since the Wang Family had enforced Xia Longyuan’s anti-Buddhist policies and Taishan’s Taiyi Sect was a Taoist faction, the two local overlords were here, so there really weren’t any Buddhist monks to be seen nearby.

Could these monks be emissaries of the Maitreya Sect?

"Logically speaking, this isn’t within the Maitreya Sect’s sphere of influence. They wouldn’t swagger around like this, right? Wouldn’t it be better to hide their identity in some way?" Situ Xiao whispered in a hushed tone, "Or do they think that they need to show their true faces upon reaching Langya to demonstrate sincerity? Are they that naïve?"

Zhao Changhe chuckled, "This is simple."

He drained the bowl of wine in one gulp and splashed some onto himself, his whole body radiating drunkenness, as he staggered out the door.

Situ Xiao twitched the corners of his mouth; this ruse was one he liked to use, and now it had been mimicked right in front of him...

But speaking of that, Zhao Changhe’s imitation of the Drunk Walk was quite interesting... Although he hadn’t mastered the full system of steps, he had already grasped its essence. Most people would think the Drunk Walk was messy and without pattern, but in reality, it was extremely systematic and the footwork was incredibly stable. Zhao Changhe had already captured some of its flavor...

Then Zhao Changhe stumbled forward, lurching a couple of steps before falling right behind a monk at the end of the group.

Just as he was about to knock into the monk, the monk frowned, looked back, and reached out a hand to steady him: "Benefactor, be careful..."

With just that one move, Situ Xiao felt sure that this was not the Maitreya Sect. The hand was solid and substantial, indicative of a martial monk trained from an early age, not the style of the Maitreya Sect.

Zhao Changhe felt the same way, still not giving up, pretending to be drunk and unable to steady himself, continuing to topple into the monk’s arms, all the while his fingers grazed the monk’s arm acupoints.

The monk’s arm that had supported him vibrated slightly, dodging the touch. Another hand swiftly reached out, landing on Zhao Changhe’s shoulder: "Benefactor, is this Drunk Walk possibly from Situ Xiao? Our Huayan Temple has never offended the Divine Brilliance Sect."

Situ Xiao: "..."

Zhao Changhe, not embarrassed at all, pretended "drunkenly" not to understand what he was talking about, wobbling aside: "Life is short, one must live it inebriated, not a drop shall reach the netherworld..."

Situ Xiao: "Damn."

But suddenly, the monk supporting Zhao Changhe heard Zhao Changhe’s transmitted message: "Venerable, watch out for a sneak attack."

The monk was taken aback, subtly nodded in acknowledgment, and sent back a message: "Thank you for the warning, Benefactor."

Zhao Changhe stumbled back to the wine shop, while the monks continued onward, soon arriving outside the Wang Family’s gate, telling the guard: "Amitabha, I am Yuan Xing from Huayan Temple, come to visit. Please inform Mr. Wang Dao in the family that I met with him once, three years ago."

It seemed like a legitimate Buddhist Sect had now come into contact with the Wang Family, especially since Xia Longyuan banned Buddhism...

It could be said that the winds of Langya were starting to stir, and clouds from all directions were converging.

Zhao Changhe turned to the expressionless Situ Xiao with a sheepish smile: "Brother Situ truly has a widespread reputation..."

Situ Xiao responded grumpily, "Recognizing the wrong person means your plan to squat in ambush for the Maitreya Sect Envoy seemed feasible but was actually presumptuous. They could have easily changed their disguises and sneaked into the Wang Family without your knowledge. What’s more, even if you had caught them, what if they were a Human List powerhouse or had brought many people along? Have you considered all that?"

Zhao Changhe watched the scene of the Wang Family’s guards going inside to announce the visit and answered off-topic: "It’s one thing for the Four Symbols Sect with its different doctrines to come; it’s just a doctrinal dispute. But now that a legitimate Buddhist Sect is here, what business does the Maitreya Sect have? If I were the Maitreya Sect Envoy, I wouldn’t bother coming now, but if I did, I would make a move now to sabotage the contact between the Wang Family and the Buddhist Sect, to preemptively cull their influence."

Before his words fell, bowstrings twanged loudly from the rooftops on either side of the Wang Family, and a swarm of arrows fell upon the waiting Huayan Temple monks at the gate.

The bows were military-grade strongbows, and the archers were well-trained. Had the Huayan Temple monks not been on guard, this volley might have caused injuries or deaths.

Fortunately, Zhao Changhe had warned them, and the monks were prepared. Suddenly, a form of a Golden Bell appeared, and countless arrows clinked and clattered against it, unable to breach the defense of the bell.

Zhao Changhe gasped, "This Golden Bell Shield is more impressive than your Horizontal Training, actually providing area protection!"

Situ Xiao calmly said, "It’s similar to the Qi Wall I told you about before. It’s a momentary defense, not lasting. Actually, it’s a type of Qi Wall..."

As expected, the Golden Bell disappeared, and the monks quickly formed a formation. Yuan Xing angrily said, "We now understand the ’courtesy’ of the Wang Family! We’re leaving!"

The Wang Family’s guards hadn’t even reported the news inside yet. They didn’t know what to do for a moment and could only watch helplessly as the monks quickly drew back in formation, retreating from the street and leaving the city.

Anyone in Yuan Xing’s position would conclude that the Wang Family had already made contact with their enemies and had chosen a side. If they didn’t leave now, they might have to account for their entire delegation’s lives right there and then.

Situ Xiao finally understood what Zhao Changhe meant by a "preemptive culling" maneuver and looked at Zhao Changhe with a new respect.

The Maitreya Sect Envoy was a character indeed! But Zhao Changhe, who had predicted even this, was even more of a monster. How did he guess?

In fact, Zhao Changhe hadn’t predicted it himself. How could anyone guess that? He had simply heard the transmitted message from Vermilion Bird, who thought there were archers on both sides intending to kill him... But with this information, Zhao Changhe quickly analyzed that the target might not be himself but instead the monks, so he gave them a warning.

Indeed, that was the case.

Odd, Chichi had left, so why was Vermilion Bird still here?

Just then, a steward from the Wang Family rushed out: "Venerable Yuan Xing! Venerable Yuan Xing! The second elder master invites you inside..."

His voice choked in his throat as, outside the door, there was nothing but empty space—where was the monk?

Only the arrows scattered on the ground remained, bearing witness to the recent mishap.

A figure clad in gray suddenly appeared at the door, speaking indifferently, "Maitreya Sect’s Fa Qing seeks an audience with Mr. Wang Daoning, the family head of the Wang Family."

Fa Qing, ranked seventy on the Human List.

As Situ Xiao had guessed, someone from the Human List really did come.

Not only from the Human List, but he also brought a group of well-trained archers... Although most of the archers were probably not in a position to act anymore, as that would be seen as provoking the Wang Family, should anyone attempt to assassinate Fa Qing, the archers could still transform into warriors.

At this moment, Situ Xiao was a bit curious, wondering how Zhao Changhe planned to pull chestnuts out of the fire amid this situation.

He even suspected that Wang Daoning must be aware of what was happening at the front gate; otherwise, being tenth on the Heavenly List he would seem too incompetent... It was very likely that Wang Daoning was standing somewhere watching the turn of events unfold, using it as some sort of test and selection.

Would Zhao Changhe dare to make a move?

Then they saw Zhao Changhe standing petrified at the inn’s entrance for a moment, as if covertly communicating with someone, his face eventually contorted with bitterness, looking like the communication had failed.

"Aren’t your Four Symbols Sect and Maitreya Sect at odds? Not long ago, Chichi even killed someone from the Jiangbei Buddhist faction. Fa Qing is right here, doesn’t the Venerable want to kill him as a sacrifice to heaven?"

"Being at odds doesn’t mean we’re mortal enemies. Chichi killed the Jiangbei Buddhist because they crossed the line first and infringed upon our interests, not because I have to kill a follower of the Maitreya Sect whenever I see one. After all, we are both against the Imperial, who knows if there might be a chance for reconciliation and cooperation in the future? You think using me to please your Tang Wanju will work? Do you think I’m a fool?"

"The Maitreya Sect is competing with you for an alliance with the Wang Family."

"Our objectives differ, so the conflict is not significant. It’s not as severe as Yuan Xing’s direct confrontation with them—that is a real conflict."

Zhao Changhe sighed, "Then I will have to take action myself."

Vermilion Bird watched from a distance with great interest; she too was curious about what this guy could still do.

Then they saw Zhao Changhe suddenly leap onto the roof, heading straight for where the arrows had come from.

There, a group of Maitreya Sect followers were gathered, waiting to see if Fa Qing at the Wang Family’s gate would be received. They turned their heads only to see a robust man holding a broadsword, pouncing over like a tiger among sheep.

The broadsword danced wildly, its movements like the sweeping winds of a storm.

The nearest Maitreya Sect follower didn’t even have time to respond before his head flew off and blood sprayed.

"It’s Zhao Changhe! Quickly, form the formation!" The group of Maitreya Sect followers panicked, trying to form a defensive formation, but what use was their formation against the broadsword that spun like a windmill!

With a "swooshing" motion, a broadsword swung past, cutting a Maitreya Sect follower and his weapon into two halves.

Over there, Fa Qing’s figure flashed, and with a somber expression, he struck a palm toward Zhao Changhe’s back, "I had no intention to create additional problems, but if you’re courting death by coming first, then stay here!"

"Whoosh!" A Zen stick came flying from afar, aiming straight for Fa Qing’s head!

Fa Qing’s biggest mistake was thinking that Yuan Xing had been deceived into leaving, but in reality, the monk had received Zhao Changhe’s message and hadn’t been fooled at all—he hadn’t left. When Fa Qing went to the Wang Family’s gate, Yuan Xing had already circled around quietly, outflanking the Maitreya Sect followers.

"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!" A group of monks appeared on the rooftops, charging toward the battle formation.

Fa Qing swatted away Yuan Xing’s Zen stick with one palm, his expression icy cold, "You Yuan Xing may not be on the Human List, but even if you turn back, what then? I shall send you all to the netherworld together!"

Before he finished speaking, the sound of wind rose behind him.

A heavy sword, with deceptively slow yet swift strikes, came slashing down.

Situ Xiao.

Suddenly, it had turned into a hunt against someone on the Human List... Yuan Xing might have been fine, being at the Ninth Layer of the Mystical Gate and a figure who teetered on the edge of the Human List, but Situ Xiao and Zhao Changhe, this was truly like calves being unafraid of tigers, where did they find the courage... Could their skills truly manage this?

Vermilion Bird’s lips curled into an intrigued smile from a distance; she too was eager to find out.