Chaotic World Book
Chapter 298 - 291 Winning 5

Chapter 298: Chapter 291 Winning 5

I had originally thought that individuals like Ying Wu, ranked highly on the Heavenly List, were akin to the Divine Dragon—elusive and enigmatic, appearing lofty and stern. Unexpectedly, he even visited to personally inquire about my health, with a laugh in his voice and without any semblance of pretense.

Zhao Changhe developed a good impression and said, "How could I trouble Lord Wu to come here in person? Please come in."

When the door opened, a middle-aged man with a friendly smile stepped in and even started with a bow, "After the battle at Yanmen, Young Master Zhao’s reputation has shaken the world. To see such a bright young man brings joy to the heart. If only Sha Qi and others could learn even half as much from Young Master Zhao..."

Zhao Changhe blinked, finding this tone reminiscent of a genial businessman—always smiling and offering flattery as he greeted you.

He was slightly chubby yet had handsome features, which made him quite endearing...

Is this really the eighth rank on the Heavenly List? Could it be an impostor posing as Sha Qi?

Hmm... The two reached a consensus on their view of Sha Qi, sharing a hero’s perspective.

Infectious in his demeanor, Ying Wu blinked and suddenly laughed, "Does Young Master Zhao think I seem like a businessman?"

"Uh..."

"Why does Young Master Zhao think I am not a businessman?"

Zhao Changhe scratched his head, "Because... you’re mysterious? And the reputation of the Heavenly List is quite intimidating."

Ying Wu made himself comfortable in the chair recently used by Cui Wenjing, leaning back relaxedly and said, "Even the most mysterious businessmen are still businessmen, after all. We just conduct a different type of business... Keeping a stern face isn’t good for business."

Zhao Changhe laughed, "Makes sense."

No wonder—from Sha Qi and San Niang to the casino manager of the Capital, Jin Jiu—none of them had stern faces. It seemed the effect trickled down from above, flipping my understanding of intelligence organizations on its head.

Their business was indeed quite international, even collaborating with the Divine Hall to search for secret realms...

Thinking of this, Zhao Changhe tapped his head, "Lord Wu, you’re here for the secret realm in Rocky Mountain, aren’t you? The entrance is actually at..."

Ying Wu waved his hand, "No rush. My visit is simply to inquire about your health, not to insist on promises being fulfilled. Wouldn’t that look bad?"

"Uh... My injury is minor, and a few days of rest should suffice." Zhao Changhe did not take the polite remarks seriously and quickly revealed the Array location.

After all, this fellow touted some unique medicine from the Cui Family, available for a document yet hasn’t shown anything tangible. Don’t assume his cheerful demeanor means he’s easy to talk to. Clearly, he’s the type who won’t act without seeing benefits first.

"Big Dipper Formation, Xuanwu Stone..." Ying Wu, upon hearing the location, was pleased with Zhao Changhe’s credibility, looked at the ceiling pensively for a good while, then suddenly burst out laughing, "Stuff from the Four Symbols Sect, no wonder San Niang is so adamant."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

It seems San Niang is from the Four Symbols Sect, and Ying Wu knows it well.

Yet the interests of both parties may not necessarily conflict, hence they turn a blind eye.

Those on the Heavenly List aren’t easy to interact with—if you think you can be easily deceived, you’d be mistaken... Whether San Niang is aware of this, she probably is, considering both she and Vermilion Bird are not to be trifled with, and Ying Wu must also be cautious. There’s a tacit understanding among everyone.

Suddenly, Ying Wu said, "We were discussing that our business is quite unique... Young Master Zhao might not know this, but we are quite similar to you."

Zhao Changhe: "Huh?"

With your adorable, chubby shopkeeper appearance, how can we be similar? Do you also have ties with the Four Symbols Sect?

Ying Wu continued pensively, "Long ago, I and a few brothers started a business without any capital, isn’t it similar to the time when Young Master Zhao was working from your stronghold? We were all bandits then..."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

"And later, as the struggle for secret realms and the rise of Martial Arts ensued, we began pursuing Ancient Secrets from treasure-seeking—footprints spanned from the Northern Border to Jiangnan—it also parallels the path you walk now, doesn’t it?"

Zhao Changhe thought to himself that wasn’t really comparable; after all, the pursuit of Martial Arts ultimately converges on the same goals. As for their neutral stance on worldly matters, it aligned more closely with Xia Longyuan.

He then heard Ying Wu continue, "Perhaps Young Master thinks we are neutral, that we sell information for money, but there’s a misunderstanding there. All our outposts in the Northern Border, including those of San Niang, have never sold Great Xia’s military intelligence or even food and military supplies to the nomads. On the contrary, it has happened the other way around, and Young Master has benefited from this and should be aware of it."

Zhao Changhe was genuinely stunned this time, "Don’t tell me that Fifth Master actually feels a sense of belonging to Great Xia?"

Ying Wu couldn’t help but laugh wryly, "What belonging... To speak ill, are Xia Longyuan’s actions worthy of my allegiance?"

At this point, his eyes finally revealed some disdainful sarcasm. Openly judging the foremost under heaven, especially when that might be the speaker’s own father... The inherent defiance expected of a Heavenly List member with an outlaw background was faintly starting to show.

It was quickly restrained, however, as he smiled warmly, "When the lord views his subjects as worthless, the subjects see the lord as an enemy, that’s all there is to it. Belonging, hearing about it is unpleasant—let’s not bring it up."

Zhao Changhe was speechless, "Then what does Fifth Master mean..."

"Being human is about having emotions," Ying Wu said softly, slowing down, "We brothers started together, so we are forever brothers. Just like San Niang after becoming a sworn elder brother, even after the elder brother’s death, whatever she chooses to believe in doesn’t bother me. If she wishes to leave, we part on good terms."

Zhao Changhe’s expression shifted slightly.

Was this a Heavenly List member? Until now, none of the Heavenly List I’ve encountered had shown this kind of human touch, not even Old Cui. Old Cui prioritized family interests above everything else, indifferent in other regards...

Moreover, you claim to be a businessman, famous for valuing profit over righteousness...

Zhao Changhe was almost doubting himself. Could it just be lip service?

But a Heavenly List member really has no need to come before me and perform such an emotionally charged act...

"We were born in this land, naturally, there is no reason to help outsiders, that’s just natural human emotions," Ying Wu leaned back into his chair comfortably and continued indifferently, "As for the strife among Xia’s people, the ’you kill me and I kill you’, just don’t expect me to sit back and watch the drama, I’m absolutely neutral. Whichever side offers the most for intelligence, I’ll sell to them, whether it’s the Emperor or a rebel, what’s it to me? If you think I’m like Xia Longyuan, it might be better to say I’m more like Bo’e—they also maintain this attitude towards tribal conflicts."

Bo, or rather, it’s less awkward to use two words, Bo’e. This is the title of Great Shaman, not a name. In the language of the grasslands, this profession is called Bo. Ordinary shamans can also be respectfully called Bo, which means lifting by giving face, but the truly recognized Bo, there is only one.

Second on the Heavenly List, Great Shaman Bo’e.

Putting it that way does seem somewhat similar, although maybe not exactly the same at the core.

"Alright, enough with the pleasantries," Ying Wu said with a smiling gaze, "Young Master Zhao must find it baffling for me to discuss these matters, but please remember, we are businessmen. Discussing this is just to give the customer a peace of mind, so both parties understand each other facilitating cooperation. All you need to do is discard whatever conception of Heavenly List you had in mind, and then it’s just the ordinary foundation of business."

Zhao Changhe finally snapped back to reality, "Does Fifth Master mean that there’s a major business opportunity you wish to discuss with me?"

"Correct," Ying Wu smiled, "Speaking of intelligence organizations, we are fundamentally different. We only gather extensive information because we pursue secret realms, and in this process accumulate a lot of other information, which is inconsequential to secret realms but still of value. We then exchange this information for necessary intelligence or monetary resources, which can furthermore be used to purchase secret realm information, thus forming a positive cycle that has evolved into our current situation. But essentially, we are only interested in the secret realms."

Zhao Changhe nodded, "I have a general understanding of this point now."

This could be why Ying Wu doesn’t seem as serious or ominous as other intelligence handlers; essentially, they are not in the business of intelligence...

"So our real business is the information of the secret realms, or simply purchasing the secret realms themselves," Ying Wu said, "From Ancient Sword Lake to Yellow Sand Market, Young Master Zhao has given me the impression of being interested in the treasures of the secret realms, but not in the ownership of the realms. For us, the things inside the secret realms, we might not want or just need some specific items, but we are most interested in the realms themselves."

Zhao Changhe understood, "Therefore Fifth Master believes that you and I can engage in a long-term cooperation."

"Is that not a match made in heaven?" Ying Wu smiled.

Zhao Changhe curiously asked, "I’m just one person; how many secret realms can I find... Fifth Master’s vast organization actually values this small amount of cooperation with me."

"Each has their own fate and affinity; some are particularly favored by women, some by wealth... And I see, particularly, you have an affinity for secret realms. If I am not mistaken, you’ve also found secret realms in Beimang... Over the past year, the secret realms you’ve encountered are probably more than most people in their entire lives. Wouldn’t it be foolish not to cooperate with you?"

Upon hearing the initial part of the statement, Zhao Changhe wanted to agree that indeed, he was favored by women, but as the conversation went on, he felt more and more as though he was truly destined for secret realms.

Or rather, it’s about the affinity with Ancient Times.

This is normal, after all, crossing over relates to this.

From that perspective, the Ancient Secret he sought to pursue, truly, could be cooperated on with Ying Wu for the long term. What he wanted wasn’t necessarily treasures, or perhaps just some specific items; what was crucial were the ancient pieces of information that could be glimpsed within the realms. As for what to do with the realms themselves—

Thinking this, he couldn’t help but ask, "What does Fifth Master use these spaces themselves for, if it’s convenient to tell?"

Ying Wu leisurely responded, "What do you think is the biggest difference between now and Ancient Times?"

Zhao Changhe instinctively wanted to say it’s the interruption of heritage leading to segmentation, if searching for secret realms isn’t to acquire ancient teachings... But connecting back to the topic, something clicked in his mind, "Does Fifth Master mean, the difference between now and Ancient Times is that the world is incomplete?"

"Correct," Ying Wu applauded, laughing, "Not just incomplete—probably only fifty to sixty percent left, with a lot of space still missing, even possibly concealing large settlements of tribes. If someone could find them all...well, even not all, just eighty to ninety percent complete, what do you think—wouldn’t the path to Ancient God Demons be right here?"