Chaotic World Book
Chapter 358 - 351 The Pursuers

Chapter 358: Chapter 351 The Pursuers

Wang Daozhong had come to assassinate Zhao Changhe.

Just like Ying Shuang, ever since Wang Daozhong had taken on the mission of hunting down Zhao Changhe, he’d been unexpectedly blocked and beaten up by the Vermilion Bird, causing him to fail to catch up with Zhao Changhe. Since then, he’d been a step behind in everything.

He found out Zhao Changhe arrived in the Capital, but by the time he got there, Zhao had already left. He learned Zhao Changhe reached Yanmen, but by the time he passed through, Zhao had already gone beyond the border. Once you’re beyond the border, forget about trying to find someone.

With eyes wide open, under his leadership, Zhao Changhe logged an awe-inspiring record of battles on the Chaotic World List, burning his pride painfully.

In reality, he was overthinking it; at that time, Zhao Changhe hadn’t even thought about the value of slapping him in the face.

What’s more absurd is that afterwards, he’d wandered inexplicably to Beimang, and just as mysteriously, the entire bandit stronghold vanished. The next update on Zhao Changhe’s whereabouts came from the Chaotic World Book, which spoke of Xia Chichi’s splendor in Kunlun and ascent to the Human List, with Zhao Changhe merely making a cameo as a supporting character.

Thank goodness for the Chaotic World Book! What a guiding light!

Wang Daozhong even didn’t have time to curse the Four Symbols Sect for allying with him and then getting cozy with Zhao Changhe... Just how far is it from Beimang to Kunlun?

Wang Daozhong was helpless; it was impossible to bring a large army over such a distance, so he had to ride alone, hurrying over through difficulty. However, upon finally arriving, it felt like the whole city was mocking him.

Forget about finding Zhao Changhe—for himself, even daily survival was a struggle. The most awkward aspect was that Wang Daozhong quite simply didn’t know whether he should be Wang Daozhong or not.

If he was Wang Daozhong, then Yan Que was biting at him like a rabid dog.

If he wasn’t Wang Daozhong, he couldn’t get into Yuxu Peak.

In any case, whether he was or wasn’t, Yan Que was already biting, so it was better to meet the Yuxu and clarify things. With the cooperation of Yuxu, other matters were trivial, and killing Zhao Changhe would be even easier.

However, he could no longer prove whether he was Wang Daozhong or not, and couldn’t even meet the Yuxu.

He thought about leaving, but had no horse. He arrived on horseback, and now must return home on foot.

Broke and unable to afford a meal, the great Langya Wang had to resort to robbery for room and board, and once again, the whereabouts of Zhao Changhe vanished without a trace.

Wang Daozhong wandered outside of Kunlun, head throbbing with pain. In the distance, a sandstorm kicked up, and a caravan was returning from afar.

Wang Daozhong’s eyes flashed with ferocity, murmuring to himself that he’d rob them of money, provisions, and horses first.

As he approached the caravan, the leading knight shouted from afar, "Is it Mister Langya Wang?"

Most of the murderous intent in Wang Daozhong dissipated. It was as though he had met an old friend in a foreign land, "Who are you to recognize me?"

"I am Liu Tuzhang of the Four Symbols Sect, having worked in the Central Plains before, and I had the honor of seeing Mister Wang by the Luo River a few years ago."

"The Four Symbols Sect..." Wang Daozhong said with a stern face, "Our families are allies. Why did you get involved with Zhao Changhe?"

Liu Tuzhang was taken aback, "Our Holy Daughter had an old connection with Zhao Changhe, known to all. Though the Venerable broke them apart, it’s quite normal for them to temporarily join forces against a powerful enemy. The Venerable wouldn’t say anything. What concern is it to you... Oh, my apologies... In short, our alliance doesn’t mean we do everything together. Killing Zhao Changhe is a private matter of the Wang Family; what does it have to do with us?"

It made sense, and Wang Daozhong had no retort. He didn’t want to fall out with the Four Symbols Sect and could only say, "Then you could at least help me prove my identity to Yuxu Palace, right?"

Liu Tuzhang looked even more bewildered, "Why can’t Mister Wang prove his identity?"

Wang Daozhong opened his mouth but then shut it again; he couldn’t very well admit he was robbed here, could he? He still had a reputation to maintain.

Liu Tuzhang said, "In the eyes of the Yuxu, I am but an ant; I can’t prove anything significant. Mister Wang, you’d better take out your family’s identification token..."

"Forget it," Wang Daozhong interrupted, "I will see the Yuxu myself. Do you have any news of Zhao Changhe’s whereabouts? Don’t tell me you’re hiding them out of respect for the Holy Daughter."

"We do have news of Zhao Changhe." Liu Tuzhang said, "He came to Kunlun, clearly wishing to continue westward into the Western Regions... However, Mister Wang, I must say in advance, Zhao Changhe travels alone, his whereabouts uncertain, now in the west, then suddenly heading north; that’s quite normal. Should you fail to find him in the west, don’t blame me for leading you astray. I personally suggest, Mister Wang, that you should return to Langya. It’s been over a decade of searching for a nemesis to no avail; it’s not the kind of task someone of your status and position should personally undertake."

The advice was sound... Wang Daozhong hesitated for a moment, feeling disinclined for further discussion, and with a bow, he said, "Thank you for the information... Mister Wang bids farewell."

"Take care, sir." After sending Wang Daozhong off, Liu Tuzhang spat out a curse under his breath.

What a joke. The relationship between Zhao Changhe and our Holy Daughter is so cloyingly affectionate, it gives one goosebumps. Despite that, the Venerable has yet to kill him, and has even appointed the direct Winged Fire Snake to replace him—which shows how highly he values Zhao Changhe. Could it be that Zhao Changhe will become the son-in-law of the Four Symbols Sect tomorrow, embracing the Holy Daughter and also having a Winged Fire Snake entwined around him? And you think you stand a chance to kill him.

Either wander and bite the dust in the Western Regions or return to Langya to put an end to the assassination. That would be the smart choice. We have some cooperation with the Wang Family and aren’t ready to turn against you so soon.

"Let’s go, back to the cloth shop."

Wang Daozhong had not gone far when he spotted a white-clothed swordsman walking alone in the yellow sand.

"Mister Wang?" The swordsman asked uncertainly.

"Listening Snow Building’s Ying Shuang, isn’t it?"

"Indeed, this is Mister Wang’s order."

For a long moment, the two stared at each other. Finally, Wang Daozhong said, "Don’t bother with Kunlun City. I’ve received reliable news that Zhao Changhe went to the Western Regions... but it’s uncertain if he’s slipped away again; the man is like a mouse."

Ying Shuang bowed, "Thanks for the information; then I’ll check the Western Regions."

With that, Ying Shuang left without another word.

Such dedication.

Wang Daozhong caged his hands as he watched Ying Shuang’s figure disappear, thinking to himself that, under these circumstances, he really shouldn’t be personally striking out like a mere underling. That wasn’t the kind of work he should be doing. He should have been back at Langya paying attention to the intelligence network and issuing orders.

As for that lunatic place called Kunlun, he would be a dog if he ever went there again in his life!

...

While Wang Daozhong was getting beaten up, Zhao Changhe was feasting on meat.

Zhao Changhe had no idea that when he left Kunlun, he had taken a brief detour to the southeast as he looked at the dust clouds afar, coincidentally avoiding a head-on collision with Wang Daozhong...

What fortune that was.

As his enemies agonized over their pursuit, Zhao Changhe traveled hundreds of miles south along the mountain range. At dusk, he stayed in an unnamed small town, in a simple farmhouse’s backyard, as the town had no inn. He paid for his lodging.

Speaking of ancient times, going out was probably the biggest difference from the modern day... Knock on the door of a farmhouse and ask for lodging, and in modern times you’d guess not one would let you in. Here, though it wasn’t everyone who would agree, at least there were some who would.

Not only were there some, but as long as you paid enough money, they were willing to buy meat and slaughter chickens for you, treating you to good wine and good dishes.

Feeling satisfied and filled with energy after comfortably enjoying a meal, he managed to drive away some of the trepidation caused by the pressure of facing a God Demon earlier, and thus his mind became calm again.

This was the first real hasty escape from Kunlun since Zhao Changhe began his journey, rather than just walking away after completing his business.

Yes, it was the first time in this life that Zhao Changhe had truly experienced what "fear" and "death" tasted like.

It was not a comparison on the same level; it was a thorough crushing, with tremors of the soul that were beyond words.

If someone were a little weaker, it would be quite normal for their moral integrity to break down, perhaps they would even kneel from then on, becoming the loyal mouthpiece and lackey of the God Demon.

Zhao Changhe wondered if the God Demon behind him would find another agent, such as Yan Que, if Yuxu did not cooperate?

His list of enemies was indeed growing... Fortunately, people like Yan Que did not know that he was Zhao Changhe.

The wind stopped and the snow melted, with the moonlight reflecting like water. Zhao Changhe stood in the courtyard of the small town, looking up at the moon. He used his mental method to calm himself for half an hour, before he finally spoke in a low voice, "With your power reaching such heights, why do you not oppress me?"

The Blind Man’s voice came from an unknown location, "I don’t want a dog."

Zhao Changhe fell silent.

The Blind Man seemed to smile, "Do you want to be one? I could let you lick my feet."

Zhao Changhe pulled out a piece of gold leaf and began to unbuckle his belt.

"?" The Blind Man was quite speechless, "What are you doing?"

"I’m going to sprinkle some Beauty Liquid on it."

"Boring," the Blind Man said indifferently, "I think you should be pulling out a new page, not this. Are you not fearful, to the point that even pulling it out is subconsciously avoided?"

Zhao Changhe’s playful actions came to a halt, and after a long while, he sighed, "You’re right. I actually felt fear. It seems I had too high an opinion of myself, thinking I was some kind of exceptional hero, when I am really nothing special."

"This is what it means to be human. When you faced Wang Daozhong before, did you not also have a cold sweat on your back? It’s just that the pressure Wang Daozhong gave you wasn’t this outrageous, but the nature of it is the same."

"Yes, it’s true."

"This is not a bad thing," the Blind Man said lightly. "Seeing the fear in your heart, only then can you overcome it, and..."

She paused for a moment, as if with laughter coming through, "To withstand the fear and death of the Blood Evil Skill, if you haven’t experienced it yourself, how can you withstand it?"

Zhao Changhe felt a shift in his heart.

"Have you ever thought that what’s truly missing from your path to become a Grandmaster is facing real adversity and beatings?"

Zhao Changhe chuckled, "Perhaps. For some reason, after you said this, I’m not afraid anymore. Actually, when I was afraid of Wang Daozhong before, now if I really met him, I would probably have nothing to fear... by that token, perhaps in a few more years, what I fear today will no longer weigh on my mind."

The Blind Man stopped talking.

This was the natural courage Zhao Changhe was born with; he too could feel fear, but it was only momentary.

He was truly well-suited for the Worldly Society.

Zhao Changhe finally pulled out the golden book page he had just acquired today.

The page was not made of gold leaf; it was like a soft silk book, but when touched, it felt almost intangible.

Dao inherently has no form; the book is but a representation.

If the gold leaf were to continue the Unsealing process, it would likely become this type of "material," and not actually be made of gold.

Gold, being steadfast and imperishable, is merely an ancient and enduring symbol.

Zhao Changhe took a deep breath and placed the book page together with the gold leaf.

A gentle golden light covered them both, as if there was an intention to meld together, merging in progress.