Chaotic World Book
Chapter 89 - 87 Two Fools

Chapter 89: Chapter 87 Two Fools

Half a month later.

Zhao Changhe sat by the stream, drinking water and tending to his horse, looking down at his own reflection in the water.

His beard had grown significantly scruffier, the samurai attire given by the Cui Family had several more tears, and Wuzhui’s glossy black mane was now dirty and grey. What had once looked like the spirited appearance of a young master had completely reverted back to that of a rough and tumble wanderer.

After the roundabout path he had taken, the battles during these past two weeks weren’t as frequent as the fierce and exhausting escort mission for Cui Yuanyang.

But this journey was longer, the total number of battles ended up far surpassing the former, since he had to kill every enemy they encountered to avoid leaking his whereabouts. It was an arduous task, always outnumbered and ensuring that none escaped.

The way people spoke about distances in this world was idiotic, often saying things like "a thousand miles apart" or "within a thousand li" without any standard measure. In reality, after meticulous calculation, returning Cui Yuanyang home was at most no more than five hundred li, whereas travelling to Sword Lake was at least two thousand li, nearly spanning from Hebei to Jiangbei. Taking detours only compounded the distance.

Fortunately, there was ample time. Otherwise, to be delayed for such a reason would be damn embarrassing.

Upon meeting Han Wubing, his first words must be, "Who the fuck told you two thousand li counts as a thousand li?"

This thousand... oh, two thousand li of arduous travel, braving the elements and ambushes, was all to uphold a promise for a duel. He wondered how outsiders might view it, perhaps as folly, but Zhao Changhe felt quite content.

Lifting his liquor flask while sitting by the stream, his heart involuntarily thought of Yue Hongling. Perhaps only she would say, "It should be so," whereas Chichi and Yangyang might not necessarily agree.

Yet, there was one even more to be pleased with: the Great Xia Dragon Sparrow.

Having been previously handled by Cui Wenjing, the murderous aura of the Dragon Sparrow didn’t seep out, and its blade was dulled, no longer shining brightly and keen, covered in a patina that made it look quite ugly. Yet after these days of fighting and the blade tasting blood, red rust began to form, its hue winding along the blade and turning into a dark pattern resembling the outspread wings of the Vermilion Bird, transforming its previously subdued and rust-speckled appearance into something ancient and rugged, as if refusing to allow itself to appear unsightly.

Zhao Changhe found it somewhat amusing and decided not to try to conceal it anymore.

Divine Artifacts were spiritual; while they were not living, they still deserved respect.

Through the days of harmonizing with the blade, he had become even more in tune with the Dragon Sparrow, and his control over the blade itself became more and more effortless.

Everyone thought that such a heavy broadsword must be sluggish and require both hands to wield, just like in his dreams from years ago... However...

Zhao Changhe held the broadsword with one hand, casually wiping his chin with it. Wuzhui, startled, widened its eyes in alarm.

Clumps of beard hit the ground, his chin was scraped clean, revealing an exquisite level of control.

"The sharpening is complete; Sword Lake is in sight," Zhao Changhe patted Wuzhui’s head: "The closer we get, the more likely it is that someone will block my path. Are you scared?"

Wuzhui snorted through its nostrils, eyes showing disdain.

"Ha!" Zhao Changhe mounted his horse, "Come on, the last stretch!"

......

By the shore of Ancient Sword Lake.

"Clang!" The tip of the sword broke off, and Han Wubing, pressing a hand to his shoulder wound and holding the broken sword, stepped back slightly.

Surrounded by countless enemies, his eyes remained as calm as a still ancient well.

"Some say your name is the opposite... Han Wubing, I think you’re indeed sick," someone incredulously asked him, "Performing a Blood Sacrifice for an old friend, cutting down your enemies one by one, and leaving nonchalantly, isn’t that heroic? We saw your name in the Chaotic World Book, so we thought we’d come take a look without any expectation of finding you here. What’s this? You’re actually staying here and not leaving? What the hell are you doing?"

Another person chimed in with a laugh, "He probably thinks that by killing his enemies at the Sword Pavilion, he has no more enemies left."

"Newcomer on the Hidden Dragon List ranked sixty-six, so stupid, huh? Hahaha..." Everyone was laughing, "You’ve received so many bounties from both the righteous and rogue paths, killed so many people, you really think you don’t have enemies?"

Finally, Han Wubing spoke, "I am waiting for someone."

"Waiting for us? Hahaha..."

"Just killing a few insects, I had no idea that even such a trivial matter would be recorded in the Chaotic World Book... it attracted others, something I didn’t anticipate before," Han Wubing slowly said, "But that was my own miscalculation, and it has nothing to do with the person I have an appointment with. Since I made a promise, I must wait."

The laughter among the crowd slowly faded, everyone disbelieving, "Just because you made an appointment, you’re waiting here for someone?"

"Correct."

"Even if it means dying here?"

"Then I shall die here."

"What if the person you made an appointment with never shows up? Won’t you regret it?"

"That would mean he broke his word, not me. What is there to regret?"

The crowd’s looks changed, some disdainful, others admiring.

But whether with disdain or admiration, an enemy remains an enemy, and they would not hold back because of such feelings.

The atmosphere tensed once again.

......

Less than ten miles away, on a path leading to Ancient Sword Lake where one must pass, several people sat chatting by the bamboo grove.

The sound of horse hooves approached from a distance, their expressions shifting as everyone drew their longswords and stood up.

From amidst the dust, Zhao Changhe rode in, his clothes ragged, covered entirely in fresh blood stains, spurring his horse forward.

Seeing the people blocking his way, Zhao Changhe was unusually taken aback, pulling on the reins and looking ahead.

The person in front sighed, "You really came here..."

"Mhm."

"Why come here?"

"I have a promise to keep."

After a few seconds of silence, the other side burst into curses, "Are you a fucking idiot? Just for that trifling matter, you’ve fought so many battles to the death along the way. Look at the blood on you; you’re still out of breath. Do you really think you’re some Heavenly God breezing through obstacles?"

Zhao Changhe silently dismounted, patted Wuzhui, who intuitively scampered off into the bamboo forest.

Zhao Changhe stood with his broadsword on his back, sighing, "You should know my..."

"Know? I don’t know shit. I thought you were smart, but what’s the point? A little smoke and mirrors? Block at Ancient Sword Lake and you’d be trapped just like when you sent Cui Yuanyang! If you don’t show up, it’s over. Don’t you understand that?"

Zhao Changhe said, "Because Sect Hierarch Xue wouldn’t foolishly wait for the rabbit at the tree stump for half a month. Anyone who does that obviously doesn’t have much status or influence, which I can handle."

The newcomer twitched the corner of his mouth, "You cursing again?"

Zhao Changhe continued to sigh, "I just really didn’t want to bump into you in this kind of situation."

"Oh, you’re even being polite now."

"I fucking don’t want to fight with you. Can’t you just retire and hide away?"

Sun Hengchuan: "..."

The forehead of the Blood God Sect member standing nearby was also breaking out in a cold sweat.

Zhao Changhe’s gaze wandered over the few sect members opposite him and wondered, "How come this setup looks like you’re leading the team, eh?"

Sun Hengchuan said, "It was Protector Ding who led the team, but right after arriving, he was sent off by the Holy Daughter Xia to run errands, so I ended up leading the team."

"Oh, then you really can’t beat me... If you’re leading the team, I really don’t want to fight. Let’s make a deal and give each other a break?"

Sun Hengchuan almost laughed out loud with anger, "Do you think I don’t know how capable you are? You think you can beat me? That’s just laughable..."

Before he could finish speaking, his eyes bulged in shock.

Zhao Changhe held the four-foot broadsword in one hand, pointing it horizontally to the right.

With one man and one sword, he blocked the entire path tight.

Paired with the blood that had not yet dried on his body, his aura was as fierce as a dragon or tiger; one look could captivate one’s soul.

Sun Hengchuan was dumbfounded, "Is that a sword or a door panel? Can you really wield that with one hand?"

"I’ve reached the Fourth Layer, not the Third Layer as reported in the Chaotic World Book recently. My sword is also different from what you think; even its form has changed, not to mention the movements," Zhao Changhe slowly said, "Instructor, I heard you’re also at the Fourth Layer, and not to boast, but to this point, no one of the same realm has lasted three exchanges under my sword. I suggest you don’t try it."

Sun Hengchuan: "..."

Finally, a restless Blood God Sect follower spoke up, "With the exhaustion you’re showing from barely being able to catch your breath, you’re surely out of options and just posturing here. Just surrender!"

As he spoke, his sword angled down in a slash towards Zhao Changhe’s left shoulder.

Zhao Changhe just watched him coldly as he approached, waiting until the sword was right upon him to suddenly move.

The follower’s wrist was suddenly gripped so tightly, as if he had offered it up himself for capture. The next moment, the Dragon Sparrow sword whooshed in, stopping precisely at his throat, touching skin but not moving further.

The Blood God Sect members fell silent.

This power, this speed, this control.

The technique was still that of the Blood God Saber Technique, but it seemed almost unrecognizable.

Sun Hengchuan’s expression became extremely complicated. No matter how many times he saw the Chaotic World Book update or heard the outrageous rumors of Worldly Society, in his heart this was always the young man he had personally trained, never as exaggerated as the stories told... Deep down, he still hoped to capture this young man and plead with the Sect Hierarch to spare him...

It was only today that he realized, where was the impression he had in his mind?

In reality, Zhao Changhe had become a battle-hardened new star of the Worldly Society, his broadsword bringing down heads like rain, and the Hidden Dragon List was never for nothing. Among his peers, being able to do what others couldn’t, that’s what a Hidden Dragon was...

Sun Hengchuan felt like the child had grown up and beaten the father, yet also found there to be great honor in it, his emotions were extremely complex.

Zhao Changhe released his grip on the sword and pushed the sect member away, "The Blood God Sect holds no grudge with me, on the contrary, I’m grateful for the shelter. My so-called dispute with the Blood God Sect lies solely with Fang Buping. Even if you, instructor, weren’t here, I wouldn’t want to kill other Blood God Sect members. Please convey my words, Zhao Changhe, to Sect Hierarch Xue. We part ways here."

His voice trailed off faintly as he vaulted over their heads. Wuzhui leaped out diagonally from the bamboo forest, and Zhao Changhe flipped onto its back. In the blink of an eye, the rider and his horse were gone, leaving behind only dust and the echo of hoofbeats.

By the shore of Sword Lake, Han Wubing’s broken sword was covered in blood.

Injured man, shattered sword, outnumbered and outmatched, he had still killed many under his blade. The besieging enemies were both terrified and knew they absolutely could not let such a man escape.

His sword was too fast, almost no one could stand against him in single combat.

They had to capitalize on this moment when he was drained and kill him in the encirclement, or else he would become the nightmare of everyone in the future.

"Clang!" A heavy broadsword struck, and Han Wubing, exhausted, could not dodge, forced to block with his horizontal sword yet again.

The already broken tip of his longsword broke off again, leaving him with only a length akin to a dagger in his hand...

"Han Wubing, you are indeed powerful... but this is where it ends for you. Go wait in the netherworld for those you’ve made appointments with," the swordsman sneered with a grim laugh, and slashed his broadsword once more.

The sound of horse hooves approached from a distance, the spirited horse neighed long, its cry sounding like a dragon’s roar.

The swordsman froze, turned to look, and saw a man from the Great Han wielding a broadsword, charging through the ranks.

Where his broadsword passed, those in the way had their heads severed and swords broken, their armor split, and blood sprayed. Subconsciously, the swordsman looked at his own heavy sword and suddenly thought, "Does this thing I’m holding even count as a sword?"

The attackers had already fallen into chaos, "Who’s there! Why the disturbance!"

"I’ve braved wind, frost, snow, and rain, broken through a thousand miles just for a promise. Damn it, I get here and the man’s being cut down by you lot, does that mean I’ve worked for nothing this month? Get lost, all of you!"

Han Wubing, blood covering his body and holding a broken sword, looked at Zhao Changhe who was also covered in blood upon his horse, and for once, his rigid face broke into a smile.

Zhao Changhe looked back and his first words had to be, "Who the fuck told you two thousand miles counts as a thousand?"

Han Wubing, pointing and barely able to contain his laughter, replied, "You just said the same thing yourself!"

Zhao Changhe: "Damn!"

In the distance among the treetops, Xia Chichi stood quietly with her robes fluttering, a faint smile on her face, "Two fools."

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PS: Third update here, begging for your monthly tickets, wailing because I got demolished~