Chaotic World Book
Chapter 375 - 367 Secret Agents

Chapter 375: Chapter 367 Secret Agents

Zhao Changhe admitted that his face had swollen from being hit by the Chaotic World Book.

Just a second ago, he was mocking Great Zhou for awkwardly praising Tang Buqi, and in the next second, his great-nephew really stood up.

But Zhao Changhe wasn’t feeling down about being metaphorically slapped in the face; instead, he was overjoyed and took out his wine gourd to take a big swig.

The memory of Tang Buqi sobbing drunk was still fresh in his mind; through trials and tribulations, the world would ultimately remember his name.

Additionally, with Maitreya Sect’s major defeat at Tai Lake and Tang Wanju launching a counterattack, he wondered whether they would continue to attack Xiangyang. With different situations on the eastern and western fronts, it was hard to tell if there would be any impact.

He was now even more eager to communicate with the Demon Suppression Department, hoping that Great Zhou really was—logically, by now, people from the Demon Suppression Department should also be willing to communicate with their superiors, making it easier to detect any signs.

Zhao Changhe stealthily followed someone from Great Zhou, weaving through seven turns and eight bends until they reached an alley filled with the aroma of braised duck... But this wasn’t the small storefront or workshop he had imagined; instead, the entire alley belonged to them.

The entire city wasn’t doing well, and this area was relatively deserted, with few customers coming in to buy goods. However, there was no need for retail; Great Zhou ordered the workers to pack up the braised goods and deliver them to various restaurants and the homes of the wealthy.

This business had regular partners, so the general downturn of the city seemed to have a smaller impact on such merchants.

Everything seemed normal, and Zhao Changhe didn’t rush, quietly waiting.

As dusk fell, Great Zhou, having finished his work, changed into a dandy’s clothes and sashayed out of the alley. Zhao Changhe thought this might be a sign of a secret meeting and eagerly followed.

"Well, if it isn’t Brother Zhou! Little Peach Red has been missing you..."

"I don’t miss Little Peach Red; I’m looking for Fourth Brother."

"Fourth Master is in the No. 1 Flower Hall, waiting to have fun with Brother Zhou."

"..." Zhao Changhe watched from a distance as Great Zhou was escorted by the madam into the brothel, his mind filled with a string of ellipses.

Why visit a brothel again...

Forget it, not this time. Before, when he had to pretend to be a customer to get in because his Qinggong was average and his knife too big, it wasn’t suitable for secret inquiries. But now, that problem was solved; Dragon Sparrow had been tucked into his ring, and his Qinggong had integrated Ye Wuzong’s Wind Technique, so secret inquiries were much easier now.

Zhao Changhe carefully noted the flower hall Great Zhou entered, floated up to the eaves, hooked himself and dangled down to peek through the window.

As expected, the Great Zhou inside wasn’t there to solicit prostitutes.

He sat opposite another man, most likely the so-called "Fourth Brother," with neither of them being accompanied by any girls, just drinking face to face.

"Has there been any news from the Front Leader’s significant defeat of Maitreya?" Great Zhou was asking.

Indeed, a person from the Demon Suppression Department.

Zhao Changhe felt his intuition was so accurate he could go buy a lottery ticket... However, the title "Fourth Brother" reminded him easily of Ying Wu’s organization...

Fourth Brother said, "The battle just ended; even if we sent messenger pigeons, they wouldn’t arrive immediately. You’re even more anxious than I am."

Great Zhou said, "Seeing the Chaotic World Book shine, I was excited... Maitreya bringing chaos to Jiangnan, at last, there’s a hint of settling the troubles. Who doesn’t want to return to the old days, peaceful and calm, hanging out here listening to a tune, how nice. What’s the point now? Business is down, and listening to music doesn’t have the same taste."

Fourth Brother fell silent for a moment before sighing, "That’s why the Front Leader thinks we shouldn’t confront Maitreya. If their Heavenly Girl comes calling souls, we’ll be led astray."

Great Zhou: "...It’s not like I was forbidden from dealing with Maitreya’s forces because I’ve always been doing business here, right? You’re different; with so many brothel chains, it doesn’t matter where you stay, so why were you sent here?"

Fourth Brother said resentfully, "I don’t even like women, so how could Maitreya’s Heavenly Girl tempt me? The Front Leader doesn’t understand a damn thing."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

Great Zhou said, "Enough small talk; from what I’ve felt these days, Lv Shiheng probably won’t side with Maitreya. Instead, he seems more inclined to independence, especially recently using the pretext of possible Maitreya Sect movements to conscript soldiers regardless of spring plowing, making his intentions even clearer. Has the Demon Suppression Department reported this?"

"No, the intelligence reported all suggests that Lv Shiheng is actively preparing for war, a loyal subject," the fourth brother smiled. "The chief has long suspected that the Demon Suppression Department in Xiangyang is untrustworthy, and that’s why we need the extra intelligence from the Secret Investigation Bureau. It now further confirms the chief’s concerns. The Demon Suppression Department in Xiangyang has become useless. Anyway, I have already reported this to the chief and let her consider it."

Zhao Changhe nodded inwardly. Tang Wanju might seem as gentle as Lin Daiyu on the surface, but she’s actually more like the Prime Minister, never needing anyone to worry about her. The Demon Suppression Department has always had both overt and covert operations, like himself, Zhao Changhe, being a secret agent. Based on the long-term business presence in the area by Great Zhou, this was a covert operation laid out many years ago; no one would guess that Great Zhou, who had been selling ducks for so many years, was a secret agent.

With the current situation in Xiangyang, Tang Wanju had long stopped trusting the official government office and initiated her underground secret agent network, which was timely.

"Then let’s report on this matter first," Great Zhou said anxiously. "Damn it, the Maitreya Sect hasn’t been subdued yet, and the other families are harboring their own agendas. When will this chaos end?"

The fourth brother spoke, "Don’t think so far ahead... I’ve just received some fresh news from the west, do you want to hear it?"

Great Zhou asked curiously, "What news?"

The fourth brother laughed and said, "Wang Daozhong entered Kunlun, and on the first day, he went to consort with prostitutes. Then, finding the women uninteresting, he chased after a handsome young master. The news from Kunlun has spread for a few days and reached here... Should we report this to the chief?"

Great Zhou almost spit out his drink, "Are you sure it’s Wang Daozhong? He has a wife and children, right?"

"Tired of the same old, quite normal for an Aristocratic Family..." the fourth brother said, warming his hands. "This is indeed a minor matter. The real issue is that I heard Wang Daozhong helped the Four Symbols Sect kidnap Yang Qianyuan from Kunlun, and now the stance of the Hongnong Yangs has also started to blur."

Great Zhou massaged his head in pain, "If I were the chief, I might be coughing up blood by now."

"However, it might be precisely because Wang Daozhong captured Yang Qianyuan and ruined Kunlun’s rules that he was later surrounded and attacked by people from Kunlun, forcing him to flee in panic," the fourth brother sighed. "Tsk, Kunlun really is a dangerous place. Even those from the Earth List can only run away in panic."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

The stories about Wang Daozhong had somehow been linked together by everyone, weaving a whole narrative that was both tragic and heroic.

Suddenly, there came a knocking at the door. The fourth brother opened it, and the person at the door whispered, "Fourth brother, the chief has sent a message via pigeon. She’s already en route to Xiangyang, and she wants you to be careful. Too much traffic from carrier pigeons could expose us... We should hide as much as possible, avoid action, and it’s best to evacuate."

Both men were shocked, including Zhao Changhe, who was eavesdropping outside.

The implication didn’t sound like the army was coming to reinforce Xiangyang, but more like Tang Wanju was entering the city incognito.

If she deduced from various clues that the Maitreya Sect was preparing to attack Xiangyang, she should be sending troops, not coming herself. What was she doing here alone?

Could it be just because Great Zhou and the fourth brother reported Lv Shiheng’s betrayal that she was coming to stop him personally?

It had to be said, it might be somewhat effective, but this action didn’t quite fit Tang Wanju’s style. It was not like her to personally visit each place rumored to revolt to play the persuader; it was inconceivable...

Was there some other enticement that caused her to come here?

Zhao Changhe momentarily felt fortunate he hadn’t gone directly to Gusu, or he would have missed her. Regardless of why she was coming, by staying here he could at least scout ahead.

Inside the flower hall, the two men looked at each other with worry. The chief advised hiding or even evacuating as best, so how could they continue to drink and discuss affairs now?

Great Zhou hurriedly excused himself to leave, "No matter what, I need to go back and make arrangements. You, on the other hand, can leave at any time. Since the chief said so, you should leave quickly. The brothel is just a property, if it’s lost, then it’s lost."

After seeing Great Zhou off, the fourth brother also scratched his head, wondering what was going on. Did the chief know something they didn’t as local secret agents? It suddenly seemed very urgent.

While he was hesitating, the door was knocked again, and a person slowly entered the hall. He was in middle age and had the refined appearance of a scholar, his long beard fluttering, face bearing a warm smile.

Yet the fourth brother jumped up in shock, breaking out in a cold sweat, "City... City Lord?"

The City Lord of Xiangyang, the Divine Sword Lv Shiheng.

"I didn’t expect the Demon Suppression Department to have a secret agent here, and even less so that it would turn out to be our Mr. Si’an," Lv Shiheng chuckled. "Unexpected, indeed."

Si’an took a deep breath, "What is the City Lord talking about..."

Lv Shiheng said in a very affable manner, "Nothing much... Just that I would like Mr. Si’an to cooperate with us in Xiangyang and do some work."