Chaotic World Book
Chapter 362 - 355: Returning Home in Glory

Chapter 362: Chapter 355: Returning Home in Glory

As he climbed the steps, Zhao Changhe took a keen interest in surveying the scenery of Wushan.

It just so happened to be the transition from winter to spring; coupled with the change in geography, he had moved from the towering Kunlun to a land of clear mountains and beautiful waters. The ice and snow were nowhere to be seen, the grass and trees were lush and green, and everywhere was damp from the spring rains, almost as if he had walked right through into a new secret realm.

It was an interesting experience.

Unfortunately, the ink in his belly was intermittent. Occasionally, he could come up with some ingenious phrases, but whenever he found himself amidst scenes worthy of poetry, he could only remember a few famous lines that were utterly out of place.

For instance, "Who speaks of the vast ocean unable to yield more water, save for Wushan clouds, is all but the same." The one here is Sect Hierarch Xue; is this poem suitable?

Or how about, "Wushan is high, Wushan is low, the evening rain is heavy, and my love has not returned, I am left alone in the empty room."

Sect Hierarch Xue would be compelled to hit someone after hearing this, wouldn’t he? Who’s left to watch over an empty room?

That being said, it seemed like the entire Blood God Sect had no interest in the fairer sex, only in bloodshed and killing... What a bullshit sect.

In fact, not many knew the Blood God Sect was on Wushan, or it might have been eradicated long ago. Initially, Zhao Changhe also found out about this place through Wan Dongliu of the Four Symbols Sect. On the surface, there was just a mountain stronghold on Wushan, where a gang had taken over the territory, engaging in robbery and banditry. The sect’s activities were covert, relying on an underground secret realm in the mountain, much like the Beimang model.

Now, with the Maitreya stirring trouble in the south, the Great Xia government really had no leisure to deal with this mountain chief.

However, better than Beimang was the fact that this was not just one stronghold. Starting from the mountainside and extending to the summit, there were large and small strongholds with actual depth, and even some defensive structures...

"Stop right there, what’s your business!"

As he reached the entrance of the stronghold, scrutinizing his surroundings, a group of bandits could no longer bear it and surrounded him, glaring at him anxiously, "This place is not for sightseeing... We have been tolerating you for a long time..."

Zhao Changhe was almost amused to laughter: "Why the patience?"

Someone hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Are you... Zhao Changhe?"

At the moment, Zhao Changhe’s Dragon Sparrow was stowed away in his ring, lacking a signature accessory, but another classic—a scar—was not concealed. He was openly visiting the mountain as Zhao Changhe, this could not be credited to Wang Daozhong.

Zhao Changhe chuckled, "Why are you afraid to recognize me? Is it because I’m not carrying a broadsword?"

"Nowadays, those who mimic Zhao Changhe’s look all carry a big broadsword. Who has ever heard of the real Zhao Changhe not carrying one? I told you it wasn’t him!" someone in the group complained to his peers, "Letting someone, who might or might not be Zhao Changhe, get to the gate without anyone daring to stop him—it’s shameful if word gets out!"

Zhao Changhe chuckled, "So if the real Zhao Changhe were to come, you wouldn’t stop him?"

The bandits collectively said, "Nonsense. Brother Zhao is from our Holy Sect, if he truly came, it would be like coming home, right?"

What the hell, "coming from our Holy Sect"... Zhao Changhe tried hard to suppress his urge to laugh and cry, "Weren’t you guys on a killing hunt for him? How come it’s now like coming home..."

"That hunt order, after being aired out for a while, no one takes it seriously anymore," the bandits cautiously replied, "Are you him or not? Just say something. If you’re not, stop pretending here. We’ve already asked the brothers from Beimang to come out and identify you; don’t run away!"

While they were speaking, a person hurriedly ran from inside the stronghold, "Someone said someone looks like our leader? Holy shit, leader, you’ve finally come, your brothers have missed you to death!"

Zhao Changhe looked up and couldn’t help but grin even wider. It was the same brother from Beimang who had previously been sent over with a letter of introduction written by Xuanwu. Indeed, Xue Canghai had pinched his nose and arranged for them a minor leadership role, like this Sixth Brother—wasn’t he put in charge of the lowest stronghold?

Sixth Brother stood out from the rest and rushed towards Zhao Changhe with a hug, then turned around, standing tall and proud, "Who the hell is blind enough to say it’s not him? If this isn’t our leader, is it your dad, huh?"

The crowd: "..."

This isn’t your family’s stronghold, who’s the leader here?

But aside from those silent grumblings, no one dared to voice their thoughts outwardly. Instead, everyone’s face displayed admiration, and they all bowed in respect, "It really is Brother Zhao..."

"Met Brother Zhao!"

"Good to see you, Brother Zhao!"

"Brother Zhao, you are our god!"

"Brother Zhao, please, have a seat inside. Should we notify the Sect Hierarch? Maybe also give you a tour?"

"..." Seeing the throng sincerely elated, as if meeting an idol, Zhao Changhe really didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. How about you guys start a superfandom?

He could imagine that if he officially visited the Blood God Sect to pay respects, he would not be treated as a traitor to be shouted at and chased down. After all, with his current strength and network of connections, Sect Hierarch Xue must handle him with care. Not long ago, he had joined forces with the Holy Daughter of the Four Symbols Sect to kill the poisonous spider Heavenly Spirit Zi. The news spread by the Chaotic World Book was known to everyone; even if he stuck his neck out for Sect Hierarch Xue to chop, he wouldn’t dare do it even if he had ten times the courage.

I never thought I would be taken for one of our own by Blood God Sect disciples, and the kind that earns face for the Sect at that... This attitude makes me wonder, did I rebel against the Blood God Sect, or have I completed my arts and returned to my hometown in glory?

Had I known this, I wouldn’t necessarily have wasted San Niang’s favor to push someone inside.

"Shoo, shoo, shoo, it’s definitely me taking the leader on a tour, what business is it of you guys?" Liu Zi glared around with hands on his hips, then immediately turned to Zhao Changhe with an apologetic smile, "Leader, Wushan is quite beautiful, with many famous sights. Shall I take you on a tour?"

Zhao Changhe laughed and said, "Are you well acquainted?"

"Quite alright, the tricks of the green forest are the same everywhere. Sun’s teaching position here is not too shabby, and he can look after everyone." Liu Zi led the way happily, "The climate here is so good, I really don’t know what the brothers were doing huddled up in that icy Beimang."

Zhao Changhe declined a group of eager bootlickers and followed Liu Zi into the stronghold, "Sun hasn’t been given a hard time?"

"There was a time when things were not so easy for him, some within the Sect were pushing him out. Although the Sect Hierarch did say that a teacher’s diligent instruction counts as meritorious and blameless, and that the preaching of doctrine is not the teacher’s responsibility, so no undue difficulties should be faced... even though it was said, there was still some distancing."

"Hmm, distancing is normal. I was afraid that the Blood God Sect, being malicious, would harshly punish Old Sun without reason, which would have changed our relationship..."

Liu Zi laughed and said, "How could they? Not to mention punishments, even the pushing out and distancing, eventually faded away. A lot of people’s attitudes changed unconsciously, and some even quietly sought Sun for teachings. I heard that even Elders who are protectors secretly sought teachings from him, and they are way more advanced in cultivation than Sun... He’s now treated almost like a reclusive dumpling seller."

Zhao Changhe couldn’t help but chuckle, "Are everyone’s stories about selling dumplings? Aren’t there any about sweeping the floor?"

Liu Zi: "Ah?"

"Uh, never mind, carry on."

"Then, actually, the Sect Hierarch himself holds Sun in high esteem, granted him access to observe numerous core secret books, and it is said even allowed him to ponder over the Holy Object. As a result, Sun’s cultivation greatly advanced this year, breaking through to the Mystical Gate Sixth Layer. Now he’s no longer just a mere instructor under the transmission Elder’s command; he’s been promoted to Holy Sect Protector, and now nobody dares to speak of pushing him out anymore."

Zhao Changhe listened and felt a deep sigh within.

It’s not like every instructor under a transmission Elder at the Blood God Sect is on Old Sun’s level... Old Sun is responsible, and his foundational skills are truly solid. I used to think it was standard, but after wandering the Worldly Society for so long, I realized that actually, the vast majority of people in the Worldly Society are quite average in this regard and don’t seem to take it seriously.

Sun, as an instructor, was actually lacking in good cultivation and opportunities for advancement. If he really had the resources for cultivation, why would he have only reached Mystical Gate Fourth Layer in his thirties?

There are actually quite a few geniuses in this world, but many are buried and unseen, regardless of which power they belong to, and many don’t even have the chance to acquire cultivation techniques and find a master.

The two chatted while making their way up the mountain, and someone had already gone ahead to report to the Sect.

Over there, Xue Canghai was discussing matters with the Maitreya Sect Envoy. Guards peeked in and out, winks and gestures abounded, but no words came forth. Xue Canghai stood up exasperatedly, and with a wave, delivered a slap, "Who taught you to act like a rat?"

The guard was wronged, cradling his cheek and lowering his voice, "Zhao Changhe has come to pay his respects to the mountain."

Xue Canghai had a sinking feeling, knowing he had slapped the wrong person; the guard was undoubtedly well-intentioned and smart. If the Maitreya Sect Envoy had heard, it would be difficult to handle.

Apart from that, Zhao Changhe had a habit of killing envoys from other factions in front of their leaders, at the Wang Family entrance, within Ba Tu’s army, happening twice consecutively, one of which involved the Maitreya Sect.

Xue Canghai’s mind raced as he turned back to the envoy with a smile, "I have some urgent private matters to handle. The envoy can go back to rest first, and we will talk again later."

After speaking, he gestured to the guards with an eye signal, indicating they absolutely must not let the envoy out to see Zhao Changhe, then he hastily left the council hall and hurriedly descended the mountain.

Having descended only halfway, he looked down to see the stronghold below buzzing with cheers, a group of Blood God Sect disciples surrounding Zhao Changhe, as if they had seen their idol. Then Zhao Changhe waved his hand grinning, with a smug "brothers, you’ve worked hard" demeanor.

A few who had just come from Beimang were surrounding him, laughing and talking as they walked up the mountain, and it looked like they were gathering followers while passing through different strongholds. With the entourage trailing him, was this the Blood God Sect or his own personal sect?

Was he here to show off his might? Xue Canghai gritted his teeth in anger.

As he pondered Zhao Changhe’s true intentions and attitude, another figure dashed urgently from the other side of the mountain and reached Zhao Changhe in no time.

Zhao Changhe stopped in his tracks.

Amid the expectant gazes of countless bandits of the mountain strongholds, Zhao Changhe knelt on one knee and performed a grand gesture, "Seeing the instructor healthy and with advanced cultivation fills Changhe with joy."

An incessant silence fell over the mountain strongholds, and even Sun, who had run over to see his apprentice, never expected to be greeted with such a grand gesture and was so stunned, he forgot to help him up.

The last time you blocked my way at Ancient Sword Lake, you weren’t this respectful.

Watching from a distance, Xue Canghai breathed a sigh of relief... with this performance, at least he didn’t come to cause trouble.

As he was thinking this, he saw Zhao Changhe look up towards the direction where Xue Canghai was standing on the mountain, as if he had always known he was there. Xue Canghai’s heart dropped again... Such Five Senses, at least belong to Secret Treasure’s door.

Zhao Changhe stood up and spoke calmly, his voice echoing across the distant mountains, "Sect Hierarch Xue, I hope you have been keeping well... Zhao Changhe, an affiliated rogue, pays respect to the mountain."