Chaotic World Book
Chapter 247 - 242: Rarely Focused on Watching Dukes and Kings

Chapter 247: Chapter 242: Rarely Focused on Watching Dukes and Kings

Watching Zhao Changhe drink wildly by himself, Huangfu Shaozong was utterly speechless. This fellow really put on a full act; if this display could make waves in Beijing, half the credit would go to what everyone conferred on him, and the other half to the posture he crafted himself.

What about not listening to names, not drawing a sword, not getting up, using one hand, complaining the wine was too little.

He had played all his cards, and yet he indeed had the ability to be arrogant. If Huangfu Shaozong himself did not take action, truly no one else could make him bat an eyelid.

He deserved to become famous.

I’ve learned a lesson.

Not until Zhao Changhe had finished drinking his bowl of wine did anyone else step forward to challenge him. It was a vivid lesson for the youth of the Capital—why the Hidden Dragon List was called the Hidden Dragon List.

Martial artists are many under heaven, a mere two or three hundred named on the list, why?

If not far surpassing their peers, how could they be called a Hidden Dragon? Being on or off the list is not even the same race track, let alone Zhao Changhe, who ranks among the top Hidden Dragons!

Especially since Zhao Changhe was ranked high while only at the Mystical Gate’s fifth or sixth layer, standing out among his peers who were at the seventh or eighth layers, people then understood why.

His reputation was well-deserved.

Forget others, even Huangfu Shaozong at this point discarded the thought of having a friendly bout with Zhao Changhe, realizing he very likely could not beat him. Better to maintain his pride by being two ranks higher. What good would it do to force his sword out, to voluntarily hand over his own ranking? That would genuinely be too hospitable.

Wasn’t it better this way, when people revered Zhao Changhe, his eleventh rank was also held in higher regard, right?

Amidst the silence, a waiter came up full of admiration, carrying a new jug of wine, bowing and scraping before Zhao Changhe, "Our shopkeeper says, this wine is on the house, to honor a hero."

Huangfu Shaozong’s mouth twitched, "Is the young master out of money or what?"

"No, no, not at all."

Huangfu Shaozong slapped a gold leaf heavily on the table, "Go, bring ten more jugs, and bring the signature dishes quickly! I’m the one treating, am I not? It’s the same as if I’m doing you a favor, I’m not foolish."

Zhao Changhe laughed wordlessly, "Brother Huangfu, whether you treat or not, I am very thankful to you."

Huangfu Shaozong looked at him meaningfully for a while and let out a sigh, "Provided you a stage to make a grand display, right?"

Zhao Changhe clapped his hands and laughed loudly, "Brother Huangfu is truly an intriguing man."

Huangfu Shaozong gestured to his left and right, "Take them out."

The servants of the Marquis Mansion stepped forward, carrying the challengers who were sprawled all over the floor downstairs. The atmosphere quieted down for a while, and only then did Huangfu Shaozong return to his calm composure, leisurely pouring wine, "Brother Zhao, haven’t you been a bit too ostentatious?"

Zhao Changhe looked as if smiling, "Isn’t this the stage that Brother Huangfu set up?"

"I never thought Brother Zhao would be so wilfully extravagant, I was expecting you’d keep a lower profile, be more humble... after all..."

"An onlooker claps and laughs at the unruliness... What does it matter if I’m detached or wild?" Zhao Changhe lifted his bowl again and drained it in one gulp, "Since I’m here, what use is timidity? If that’s all the excitement there is, it would disappoint me."

"Boom!" Dark clouds gathered thickly above, lightning flashed, thunder roared, and the rain poured down like a deluge.

The sky became completely dark.

The noisy inn turned quiet; outside, rain pattered on the platforms, while inside, there was silence.

Admiration that Huangfu Shaozong couldn’t hide filled his eyes. Such an interesting person; no wonder his sister suggested he get to know him better.

It seemed as if his arrival in the Capital was sure to stir up a storm... Yet there he sat, loftily drinking in his tower, while the entire Capital was eerily quiet, except for the young challengers to the Hidden Dragon. The anticipated turmoil simply did not happen.

As if a mere sixth-lay adept from the Mystical Gate had suppressed the whole Capital City.

Although he knew it wasn’t the case... His abrupt entrance to the Capital had taken others by surprise too. It might even require a day or two of heated debate to decide how to deal with him. Moreover, there were mutual concerns, such as whether Huangfu Shaozong’s identity and the backing of the Imperial Concubine had already signaled a certain bias?

If someone made a move, would another step in to intercept, bringing everything into the open, to whose liking?

The direct struggle for power within the Royal Family required extreme caution; no one dared to stick their neck out. Xia Longyuan was still alive...

Thus they let him rant and rave, and the Capital remained silent.

So much for the den of tigers and dragons, is that all there is!

Knowing the reason, Huangfu Shaozong couldn’t help but admire him. Who else could be so aloof and commanding upon arriving in the Capital, the focus of the Heaven, Earth, and Human Lists, faced with countless powers and forces?

To those with intentions, it was almost like declaring who else could claim dominance in this realm today!

In the distance, Tang Wanju quietly watched, her beautiful eyes gradually becoming blurred. On the opposite side, Vermilion Bird crossed her arms.

"Brother Huangfu," after an uncountable number of toasts and the night growing deeper, Zhao Changhe, seemingly a bit tipsy, asked, "Is there a gambling house around here? I’m feeling bored and would like to gamble a few hands."

I thought you were going to ask if there were any prostitutes around here... Yihong Tower is right opposite, and taking your lead there means my sister can’t scold me. Why ask about a gambling house?

I haven’t heard that this man is fond of gambling... Maybe he means gambling with life?

Huangfu Shaozong’s mind whirled, and he slowly said, "There is... At the end of this street, just around the corner, is the Anle Gambling House."

"Oh, Kangle, Anle, is it a chain?"

Huangfu Shaozong shook his head: "I’ve never heard of Kangle Gambling House."

"Oh..." Zhao Changhe tapped his head, "That shabby gambling house is far away in Sword Lake; it’s no wonder the nobles of the Capital City haven’t heard of it... So, wanna join me for some fun?"

"Better not, my family is extremely strict about this... I’m afraid my older sister would break my legs if she found out. If Brother Zhao wants to go, please feel free to do so."

"Alright, I’ll go and have some fun by myself."

In the midst of the wind and rain, Zhao Changhe staggered away from the tavern: "The fun ends here; many thanks to Brother Huangfu for the hospitality."

Huangfu Shaozong stood looking down from the building. He didn’t know why Zhao Changhe wanted to go to the gambling house, but he knew why Zhao Changhe intentionally left alone, so he purposefully didn’t offer to accompany him.

The straight main road, the rain-drenched street. Lanterns on either side swayed and creaked in the rain, their noise blending with the pitter-patter of the heavy rain to form a unique symphony.

There were few pedestrians, some quickly passing under umbrellas, and a staggering drunkard walked down the middle of the road as if no one else existed.

If there were a flash of sword light at this moment, wouldn’t it be particularly apt?

However, not a thing stirred as Zhao Changhe walked the entire rainy night street.

Zhao Changhe, as if dissatisfied with the amount of alcohol he had drunk, took out his liquor gourd, tilted his head back for a large gulp, and laughed heartily as he went on, "The smokes and clouds of Beijing, that’s all there is to it! It seems only the pure Mr. Dai can bring the most straightforward answer, between you and me, I’ve thought too much!"

No one knew whom "you" referred to; everyone who heard it felt it was directed at themselves.

It’s just a pity that the real "you" is still at the Four Symbols Sect.

"Bang!" Zhao Changhe, swaying, pushed open the doors of the gambling house.

The door guard hastily stopped him: "Sir, you cannot bring a sword into the gambling house."

Zhao Changhe glanced at him with a smirk, "What if the sword is exactly what I’m betting?"

"Boom!" Thunder roared again in the sky.

Sighs finally emerged from inside the gambling house: "No one in the Capital would dare to take that bet."

Zhao Changhe laughed, "Not even the Eighth Layer of the Heavenly List?"

"No, they would not dare, and our Fifth Master is not here, so we dare not decide on his behalf," the person said leisurely. "However, it’s no problem for Sir to bring the sword inside... The gambling house is more than just gambling, we have the finest hot springs, the best dealers to accompany your stay."

"Not bad, not bad, you guys are more interesting than Huangfu Shaozong."

"The nobles worry too much about many things, whether it’s Huangfu or Cui Tang. We commoners don’t have so many concerns; our duty is to welcome guests when they arrive. Please, this way, Sir."

"Who said we’re fussy?" A resentful voice came from behind, "Mr. Zhao is a friend of our young master, and he has helped us thwart the Maitreya Sect’s conspiracy. The young lady said we should offer our hospitality, but today we were just too busy, letting young Marquis Huangfu take our place in entertaining."

Zhao Changhe twitched the corner of his mouth, What are you doing? I’ve got business to take care of!

Could it be that the mention of a dealer accompanying in the hot spring has made you this anxious...

The man inside the gambling house also looked somewhat helpless: "Since Miss Qin has said so, we have no reason to insist on pulling in customers. As you please."

Before he could finish, Huangfu Shaozong hurried over, "That, Brother Zhao, although I can’t accompany you into the gambling house, my family’s guesthouse has been arranged, complete with gentle maids..."

Similarly, his words were cut off by a piercing voice from a distance: "By the gracious decree of the Empress, Zhao Changhe is summoned to the palace for an audience."

It was as if the wind and rain paused for a beat, Zhao Changhe laughed uproariously, "What Empress, what head of the sect, what Marquis. I want to enter the gambling house; what does it have to do with you?"

After saying that and paying no heed to anyone else, he stepped through the door.

Huangfu Shaozong opened his mouth, then closed it again, while Bao Qin ran away in tears.

From a distance, an old eunuch stood trembling with anger, "Preposterous..."