Chaotic World Book
Chapter 392 - 383 - Mountain and Stream

Chapter 392: 383 Chapter Mountain and Stream

To launch an attack on Maitreya, now is not yet the time.

Firstly, Xiangyang itself is still not completely stable, and secondly, Tang Wanju’s health must be nursed, otherwise, if something goes wrong during the campaign, killing ten thousand Maitreyas would not make up for it.

Additionally, it’s best to wait until Ying Wu comes in person to discuss, and...the birthday of Yang Jingxiu next month, it would be good to attend, to manage all aspects well.

It really is a completely different ecosystem, feeling in this environment, whether one can fight is truly not important, no wonder the Aristocratic Family looks down on the grassroots, always with a sense of viewing a commoner.

Zhao Changhe, with a bit of a headache, pinched his forehead, bid farewell to Li Si’an, and went to find Xue Canghai.

Xue Canghai was leading the Blood God Sect’s followers stationed in the barracks, vigilantly guarding the Xiangyang soldiers.

Looking at the Blood God Sect followers with their red eyes, the previous pursuit of the defeated Maitreya soldiers clearly wasn’t enough, feeling like they really wanted to pounce and wipe out the Xiangyang soldiers.

Chasing tens of thousands and chopping, it’s unknown how many heads per saber strike, for followers who have not received the nourishment of Blood Evil for a long time, this feels like they might realistically rise by one or one and a half levels...hence, they thought about looking for an experience package again, watching the nearby campsite shudder in fear.

Fortunately, Xue Canghai wasn’t foolish, knowing what Zhao Changhe was thinking, and firmly controlled this unruly bunch. Thus, everyone, with nothing better to do, was lifting rock weights in the army camp, working their qi and blood, bustling with activity.

In fact, it might just be the effect of rains after a long drought, killing more doesn’t necessarily mean gaining experience. Xue Canghai himself felt that after a killing spree, there wasn’t much benefit, and he increasingly appreciated Zhao Changhe’s interpretation of the Blood God’s intent.

This Blood Evil thing, about enough is just right, it’s not something with an endless demand, don’t put the cart before the horse.

What really needs to be used is the battlefield’s malevolence... Zhao Changhe’s stab at Yu Cixiu considerably moved Xue Canghai too. He too, holding the Blood God Saber, replicated that stab’s intent in the camp, as if enlightened.

"Old Xue, Old Xue." Zhao Changhe lifted the tent flap and entered, quite satisfied, "You’ve restrained them well, I thought I would see a pack of rabid wolves."

"It still is a pack of hungry wolves, they’re starving," Xue Canghai said irritably.

"That’s alright, there’ll soon be a chance for battle."

"Wiping out Maitreya, right?" Xue Canghai said, "When the time comes, Tang Wanju as Chief, a bunch of elites from the Tang family, southern families gathering their militia, do we get a share too?"

"Is our status poor?" Zhao Changhe smiled, "We’ve decided, let’s have you serve as the Commander of Xiangyang’s troops, how’s that?"

Xue Canghai: "?"

You say I, a mountain chief from Wushan, somehow...

"That..." Xue Canghai’s tone became three degrees more refined: "My background, um, I haven’t learned much about military tactics, afraid I might disgrace..."

"No problem, learn slowly," Zhao Changhe said, "Also, ask around, there must be brothers who are unwilling to be soldiers, preferring the Worldly Society of Martial Arts, would they do the Demon Suppression Department? I think Sun Jiaxi is quite suitable."

Xue Canghai’s eyes became round.

Is this an amnesty?

But the Imperial Court doesn’t even have an edict, does our amnesty count? Or does what you say go?

Right... he seems to be the Prince, the only one.

"We’ve agreed, whether it’s being soldiers or joining the Demon Suppression Department, rules have to change, temperaments have to shift. If it’s still the old ways, better not take the role, let’s not make it embarrassing for everyone."

Xue Canghai hesitated for a long while, originally wanting to ask if you’ve decided to become the Emperor, but the words at his lips felt too direct and culturally crude, not fitting his current status. He held it back until his face turned purple, finally squeezing out, "What...are your plans next?"

Zhao Changhe looked to the sky: "Learn from others how to heal, teach me how to treat her."

Xue Canghai: "???"

...

Taking Sun Jiaxi and a few others who were unwilling to be mere fighting soldiers to the Demon Suppression Department, amid the distrustful looks of the department, Zhao Changhe pulled out a badge and publicly announced Sun Jiaxi as the head of Xiangyang’s Demon Suppression Department, transferring Imperial Court powers privately, bizarrely turning the Demon Sect rogues into police. Zhao Changhe, with lots of guilt and messy accounts in his head, slipped back to the Governor Mansion.

Regardless, with the backing of the Chief himself, it should be fine.

It’s merely a temporary measure, seeing Sun Jiaxi’s unwillingness, he might not even want this job... Anyway, there’s no one else for public safety, just go with it for now, can discuss again if it doesn’t work out.

Look, with this, doesn’t the chaotic Xiangyang suddenly seem much more normal?

With incoming funds and food on the way, almost here.

The needed manpower is also gathered, a rag-tag army now has a leader.

No need for Wanzhuang to slave over the strategies anymore, she can properly learn to heal and inquire about medicines.

This apprentice, truly filial, touching the heavens, Great Xia hearing it would shed tears...

Zhao Changhe self-reflected as he entered the rear courtyard of the Governor Mansion, from where faint sounds of a zither drifted. He slowed his pace, listening intently, slightly frowning.

This level is quite average, maybe it’s because he had been influenced by the page of the Heavenly Book on the Natural Path, raising his standards, whereas Wanzhuang really didn’t have much time to practice the zither, making her level lag?

Approaching the courtyard to peek, Bao Qin was playing the zither.

Zhao Changhe: "..."

So it’s you, no problem then.

His eyes scanned around, and he saw Tang Wanju leaning languidly on the pavilion, one hand supporting her forehead, the other holding a scroll, a faux mountain behind her, water flowing gently, just like a fairy in a painting, momentarily lazy, casually reading a scroll.

Zhao Changhe’s heart involuntarily skipped a beat.

It was truly too beautiful.

The aura was captured perfectly—it was deeply moving. Even the sound of the zither carried by Bao Qin was delightful. The little girl played so leisurely, perfectly complementing the scenery. Very good indeed.

"Bao Qin," Tang Wanju continued reading, not lifting her eyelids, and said leisurely, "Give him the zither."

"Zing!" The zither music suddenly stopped, and Bao Qin stuttered, "Miss, he, he..."

"He won’t break it~" Tang Wanju drew out her tone, soothingly like coaxing a child, "If it breaks again, go play his face, play him to death."

Zhao Changhe thought to himself, thankfully you mentioned playing the face, I thought...

Reluctantly, Bao Qin stood up, warily looking at him, "Go easy!"

Zhao Changhe, feeling helpless, said, "I have a bunch of things I want to report to you."

"If you are fully responsible and assisting me in my recovery, then I won’t listen to these."

"What if something goes wrong? I feel guilty myself, and I don’t know if it will work."

"Could it be worse than what Maitreya had occupied before?" Tang Wanju smiled slightly, "Sit down, I want to hear if you have practiced the zither during this time."

"I came here to learn medicine, can the zither be set aside?"

Tang Wanju ignored him, her eyes continuing to rest on her book.

I’ve forgotten some things; I too need to urgently review several pages of medical books lest I falter. Would I tell you that?

However, Zhao Changhe thought to himself that this sister was calm and confident, unhurried and respectful, which made him feel a deeper reverence. He sat next to the zither and pressed the strings, asking, "Which piece would you like to hear?"

"The one you know best," Tang Wanju said, "You never really know many anyway, so why pretend..."

Zhao Changhe was quite helpless; indeed, he didn’t know many, and the most familiar might be "High Mountain and Flowing Water." Originally, Tang Wanju taught him the zither mainly teaching this piece, emphasizing that their relationship was one of kindred spirits aiding each other, nothing more. Asking him to play it now seemed like a repeated warning...

But this warning now meant nothing to a brute like him.

Zhao Changhe reached out and lightly plucked the strings; the tune of "High Mountain and Flowing Water" began somewhat awkwardly at his fingertips.

Bao Qin sneered, truly amateur.

Stealing glances at her mistress, the mistress seemed to still be smiling.

It’s all over.

Just as he was stewing in his frustrations, his melody transitioned from awkwardness to proficiency. Bao Qin let out a surprised "Huh" and pricked up her ears.

His proficiency was limited; mainly because, as a Martial Arts practitioner, whether it was finger technique changes or control of strength, everything now seemed effortlessly easy, much like learning medicine should also be easy. But the artistic conception was rather impressive—it was as if one could genuinely feel the towering mountains, flowing springs, vast blue skies, and fresh air from his playing, drawing one into an idyllic realm.

This ability to convey meaning through music was something Bao Qin had never mastered since she was young. How did he manage it?

Tang Wanju’s gaze inevitably shifted from the pages of her book to his profile.

The figure seated cross-legged at the creek, playing the zither, gradually overlapped and fused together with him.

That was him... it always had been.

She had originally thought that his level of playing the zither was just a figment of her hopeful imagination, but unexpectedly, he had truly reached such a level... Although he hadn’t practiced and was rusty in technique, his conception was broad and sublime. This was his innate disposition, combined with his observations and understanding of the natural Dao from unknown sources, gradually transforming into something uniquely his own.

Even the essence of Martial Arts was there.

Mountains reaching thousands of feet high, unyielding and firm. Rivers flowing thousands of miles, unstoppable.

Each person perceives nature differently; it was his intentions that made the sounds of "High Mountain and Flowing Water" thunder and roar, turning the flowing water into waterfalls, with geese calling across the sky and people standing on mountaintops.

In the valley below, hidden orchids bloomed.

That was the meaning as the zither music concluded—the distant valley orchids viewed from a high vantage point, but for whom?

As the sound of the zither ceased, Bao Qin’s expression changed, and Tang Wanju’s gaze became intense. Neither had expected that after such a long time, his demeanor had changed so dramatically. Where was the resemblance to the bumbling brute they remembered?

From "High Mountain and Flowing Water" to now, he truly was a kindred spirit.

Zhao Changhe turned to look at Tang Wanju, smiling gently, "I intended to play more soothingly, but before I knew it, it became spirited again... It doesn’t seem too suited to your condition, perhaps let Bao Qin play instead."

"I don’t want to listen to hers; I’m tired of it. I want to hear you play," Tang Wanju blurted out.

Bao Qin opened her mouth, then closed it again.

Zhao Changhe stood up and walked over to sit next to her, "Stop joking, learning medicine is more important."

"Alright," Tang Wanju, slightly sullen, directly shoved the medical book in her hands into his, "This is the first part of ’Shennong’s Materia Medica,’ start by learning each medicinal herb’s appearance and effects, and I’ll quiz you later."

Zhao Changhe’s face turned green as he flipped through the thick medical text. Memories of dying during exams attacked his spirit. How long had it been since he studied? Could he memorize all of this? It looked like this was just the first part, and there were many more, right?

When faced with difficulties, people look for ways to be lazy. A sudden idea struck Zhao Changhe—what if he matched the patterns in this medical text with the second page of the Heavenly Book? What would happen?

If the second page represented the natural Dao, would the medicinal herbs be related? Could there be a more precise exploration of the medicinal herbs, like analyzing Martial Arts in slow motion?

Expanding further, what changes would occur if the Mountain and River Map from Xuanwu was also thrown into the mix?