Chaotic World Book
Chapter 374 - 366: Waves Sifting Sand, Finally Recognizing You

Chapter 374: Chapter 366: Waves Sifting Sand, Finally Recognizing You

"The officials are good in that they at least won’t rob you of your Ma Xiongjun just upon seeing it, which is a bit better than how it is in Kunlun..."

"Or at least the gatekeepers won’t do that openly, outside...it’s hard to say."

Zhao Changhe, unconcerned about meddling further, honestly paid money and entered the city.

In a city that, theoretically, still belonged to Great Xia, there clearly existed a Demon Suppression Department, but now Zhao Changhe couldn’t be sure if those people in the Demon Suppression Department were still considered allies.

Ying Wu’s people were more reliable in such matters... but Ying Wu’s organization was more or less a secretive one.

In some essential places, anyone familiar with the streets could guess where Ying Wu’s strongholds were, as they often used casinos to meet and trade information. But in other areas, it was incredibly secretive, barely revealing their identities—San Niang opens an inn; Chen Yi runs a tavern...

Under Lv Shiheng’s watchful eyes, he guessed this was not a gambling den... But how to find it?

Being in the Worldly Society, he felt surrounded by friends. But in the mundane world, he found it amusing how hard it was to find his own network... No wonder ordinary people find it difficult to find powerful mentors; to most, these organizations exist only in legends.

Zhao Changhe didn’t dwell on it and randomly chose a tavern to dine in: "Shopkeeper, bring me the Hero’s set meal."

The shopkeeper, baffled, replied, "What is this ’Hero’s set meal’..."

"Oh, two jiao of wine, and a pound of cooked beef."

"...We forbid the slaughter of cows here."

Zhao Changhe was stunned, as when he first arrived, he had considered this, but after blending in for so long, he had never actually encountered a place that didn’t sell beef. He had forgotten this issue, only to be abruptly reminded now.

This actually indicated the richness or scarcity of resources. Cows are work tools and can’t be killed carelessly. But where resources are abundant, it’s not so serious. This reflected the shift from the past "imminent turbulent times" to actual turmoil now.

And this place was one of the war’s centers.

Not only did the tavern lack beef, there were few customers as well; a large tavern was loosely filled, with just two to three tables of guests, seemingly just barely managing to operate.

Zhao Changhe wasn’t insistent and casually ordered, "Then just bring a bowl of noodles."

While eating, Zhao Changhe utilized his powerful Five Senses from the Secret Treasure to discreetly listen to the idle chatter at the two or three tables.

Now his hearing was truly exceptional; if he focused, he could really hear people breathing several zhang away. Combined with the eyes behind his back and the "Moon Reflected in Water" mental method, whether through sight or hearing, the entire tavern’s environment lay clear as if being looked down upon, even including the sounds beyond the walls outside.

Activating the Secret Treasure, the power itself might not seem much stronger, but the overall strength was worlds apart.

It was very likely that such a state would continue to develop, possibly reaching the legendary "Divine Thought", although currently, it still hadn’t left the realm of "martial".

"Recent days have been tough... No business at all," a customer sighed.

"Recently?" His friend scoffed, "The real problem will be in autumn! Now it’s spring plowing, and the City Lord is aggressively drafting people, forcing them into service. The farms are short on hands for spring plowing; what will we harvest but northwest winds this autumn?"

"Isn’t the draft meant to till the fields?"

"The fields cultivated belong to the military for their provisions, what about us? We harvest northwest winds and even have to pay a northwest wind tax, right?"

"Shh, quiet down," his friend lamented, "It’s all because of the Maitreya Sect’s rampage, can’t blame the City Lord."

The original speaker scoffed softly, muttering, "Might as well let the Maitreya Sect win, what’s the point in resisting."

"Shh!" his friend urgently interjected, "You can’t just say things like that."

The man shut his mouth.

Could it be solely the rampage of the Maitreya Sect causing this, or were others using it as a pretext to expand their own military? It was hard to say.

At the moment, the root cause was indeed the Maitreya Sect, but if tracing back further to even earlier sources?

Finally, the man couldn’t hold back and cursed, "Damn the inept ruler."

While his friend was trying to dissuade him from welcoming the Maitreya Sect, he nevertheless agreed with this sentiment, echoing, "He should die childless, even his son would be useless."

"His daughter went to the dogs..."

Zhao Changhe: "?"

Forget it, it’s just venting through abusive language, nothing pleasant to hear.

However, it is clear that previously, such irreverence was absolutely forbidden, but in today’s Xiangyang, direct verbal assaults seem to go unchecked, instead, saying anything welcoming towards the Maitreya Sect is frowned upon as "irresponsible talk."

The intention of Lv Shiheng is evident. Though he rejects Maitreya, he shows no respect for Great Xia either.

These two drinkers, likely one a merchant and the other a landlord with his own farm, both middle class... their conversation reveals a deep resentment... It indicates that common folk must be suffering even more.

Zhao Changhe sighed again, realizing that even if the Maitreya Sect was subdued, Great Xia was still in a precarious state.

Now, the Four Symbols Sect might already possess two Goddesses from the Third Layer Secret Treasure. Initially feeling their power was insufficient due to lack of top-tier combat capabilities, now with these two... a single one might still fall short, but two together would be difficult for many to withstand. Xia Longyuan and the God Demon being preoccupied, it’s uncertain if they could spare efforts to handle two from the Heavenly List.

Seeing the tens of thousands of soldiers from the Blood God Sect ready for action, Zhao Changhe always felt the ignition of warfire north of the Yangtze River by the Four Symbols Sect was an imminent occurrence.

Huangfu Qing, her father, still remains the strongest general of Great Xia, commanding the most elite border troops.

What will Wanzhuang do then?

Just as he was pondering this, another group of drinkers at a different table happened to be discussing Tang Wanzhuang: "Hey, Great Zhou, didn’t someone say that Chief Tang had already arrived in Jiangnan?"

"Yes, it has been a while, hasn’t it?"

"How come there hasn’t been any news for so long? I thought with her leading the war efforts, there would be some counteroffensive actions. Why is it so quiet?"

"War isn’t that simple," Great Zhou said irately. "Do you think it’s like a duel in the Worldly Society, just calling out Maitreya for a fight and that’s it?"

"Shouldn’t Tang Wanzhuang know about military strategies?"

"Actually... in terms of real battle formations, she can only be considered good on paper, maybe not even as skilled as her nephew Tang Buqi."

"How can you say that? Tang Buqi has been out of the picture even longer. I heard that in two more months he will be of age to be listed on the Hidden Dragon List..."

"He’s been hardened by many battlefields. With Gusu withstanding numerous sieges by the Maitreya army, you wouldn’t understand unless you’ve seen it..."

"Sounds like you’ve seen it yourself."

Great Zhou didn’t respond to that but continued about Tang Wanzhuang: "Tang Wanzhuang coming to Jiangnan, in my view, isn’t to command..."

"Then what’s she here for?"

"First, to bear the brunt against Maitreya, and second, to influence the region... With her here, other factions can unite and wouldn’t dare harbor differing intentions. Don’t underestimate her despite her severe coughing; she could decapitate someone in the night and hardly anyone could stop her. Besides, Great Xia still has some influence left, and the position as head of the Demon Suppression Department still holds significant value. Tang Buqi can’t replace Tang Wanzhuang’s role."

"You’re just a duck cook, how do you know so much?"

"Damn it, I need to go back; today’s braised duck isn’t done yet."

Zhao Changhe felt a stir in his heart.

This Great Zhou is a bit suspicious... A duck cook, yet so well-versed in the affairs of Jiangnan, and his promotion of the Tang family and the Demon Suppression Department’s positive values compared to other drinkers is like a breath of fresh air...

Seeing Great Zhou pay his bill and leave, Zhao Changhe quietly finished his soup and got up to pay his bill, discreetly following him.

If he wasn’t mistaken, this could be someone from the Demon Suppression Department... As for his boasting about Tang Buqi, Zhao Changhe felt it might be an exaggeration, judging by his grandnephew’s repute...

Just as this thought flashed through his mind, a golden light suddenly streaked across the sky.

Zhao Changhe looked up in shock:

"At the end of the month, Tang Wanzhuang and Maitreya will battle again at Tai Lake, from which Maitreya will retreat defeated."

"Tang Buqi, seasoned in battle arrays for years, attains the Seventh Level of the Mystical Gate. During an exchange on the Earth List, he crosses over the Heavenly Girl Enchanting Array from the Maitreya Sect, decisively slays Maitreya’s three main Heavenly Girls, leads a squadron to shatter Maitreya’s forces at Tai Lake, with Maitreya’s major general Fa Chi breaking out alone and the remaining troops scattering, numerous warships burned. Gusu’s Tang family forces press southward, directly pointing at Hangzhou."

"Changes in the Hidden Dragon List."

"Hidden Dragon rank nine, Tang Buqi."

"Great waves sift the sand, a true gentleman is versatile."