Chaotic World Book
Chapter 90 - 88 Sword Lake City

Chapter 90: Chapter 88 Sword Lake City

Zhao Changhe’s charge had completely crushed the enemies besieging Han Wubing.

Originally, defeating so many with fewer numbers, they were forcing themselves onward, propelled by sheer will, believing Han Wubing was at his last gasp and had to be killed no matter what, so they gritted their teeth and continued.

Then suddenly, this fierce man charged on horseback, the sheer momentum of his blade was enough to make one’s legs go numb, let alone keep fighting...

No one noticed that Zhao Changhe himself was also exhausted, yet everyone lost the will to fight, shouting and scattering, vanishing without a trace in an instant.

Zhao Changhe had thought he was in for a tough fight, and when he saw the turn of events, holding his saber, he was a bit taken aback: "Am I that terrifying?"

Han Wubing smiled, "Not bad, you are quite terrifying."

"A bunch of idiots, daring to encircle someone of the Mystical Gate Fifth Layer, and getting scared off by someone of the Fourth Layer. Pfft." Zhao Changhe dismounted, sitting on the ground wearily: "Hey, how many days until the beginning of summer?"

Han Wubing also sat down weakly beside him, calculated a bit: "Seven days left, you’ve come quite early."

"Seven days." Zhao Changhe turned to size him up for a while: "Can you heal from your injuries in seven days?"

"They’re mostly superficial wounds, they look gruesome, but with the right medicine, they’ll heal quickly, three days should be enough."

Zhao Changhe grimaced and smacked his lips: "So you’re saying, after you recover, we still have to twiddle our thumbs here for another four days? The beginning of summer sure is taking its sweet time... uh..."

He stopped talking upon thinking of his own girlfriend.

The eavesdropping Xia Chichi suddenly began to grin.

Han Wubing, unaware of why he had suddenly halted, said: "Waiting four more days is nothing, there are some things to see in Sword Lake City, we can take a look around. Or if you want to find a sword... oh, you use a saber, so probably not interested."

"Even if I used a sword, I wouldn’t be interested. Yangyang said the Cui Family couldn’t find it, so who else could, with that bunch of idiots just now?" Zhao Changhe said: "Is your sword broken? I advise you not to bother looking, just buy a good one in the city."

Han Wubing said: "I wasn’t planning on looking."

"Alright then." Zhao Changhe stood up: "Mount up, I’ll take you into the city to rest."

Han Wubing wasn’t fussy and got straight on the horse.

Little did anyone know, these two apparently good friends sharing a ride were actually planning to duel each other in a few days.

What was even more bizarre was that from beginning to end, both fools hadn’t considered that since they were both already there, the supposed time for the martial contest was theirs to reschedule if they felt like it. They could have it earlier if they wanted, so why insist on waiting for the beginning of summer...

...

Sword Lake City.

Many years ago, it was just a lakeside town, but now, there’s no need to say more, it’s a super large city, more prosperous than the state city nearby, but unlike other cities, it still seemed to operate like a town, without city walls, guards, or a city entrance tax.

Thus, it thrived even more.

Zhao Changhe rode into the city, curiously sizing up the street scenes, wondering how they compared to Qinghe. Not far into his exploration, he was met with fragrant breezes, and a heavily made-up madam approached him: "Oh my, this young master, would you like to come stay at our House of a Thousand Flowers? Our ladies are the most beautiful in town, and they are well-versed in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting..."

Zhao Changhe: "...Are they as skilled as Section Leader Tang in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting?"

The madam was at a loss for words: "Well, no, we don’t have that."

Zhao Changhe nodded: "Then never mind, go practice some more."

Han Wubing couldn’t help but laugh.

Zhao Changhe spurred his horse forward, muttering: "The brothels here are something else. We’re covered in blood, and they don’t care at all, still soliciting."

Han Wubing said: "You’ll understand if you stay a couple more days."

There was no need to wait two days; Zhao Changhe understood now.

Ahead was another brothel. People were fighting at the entrance, and by the time Zhao Changhe thought to go enjoy the commotion, someone had been killed.

A few patrons came out and carried the body away, the brothel carried on with business as if nothing had happened.

Now it was Zhao Changhe’s turn to be astounded: "What is the Government Office doing here?"

Han Wubing spoke leisurely, "This place still has the regulations of a small town, who knows what Your Majesty is thinking?"

"...Then with such prosperity, how do they collect taxes, what a damned waste."

Han Wubing was also dumbfounded, I’m just a Worldly Society traveler, I don’t know.

Zhao Changhe had a headache, "Is there a Demon Suppression Department?"

Han Wubing actually had an idea, "Officially there’s no government office, but there must be one in reality. Who knows which residential building, or perhaps even which brothel or gambling den it might be in."

Zhao Changhe nodded, "Where did you stay before?"

"I didn’t stay in the city before. I was worried you couldn’t find me, so I set up a shack beside a tomb in the bamboo forest by the lake."

"So you mean just find any place?" Zhao Changhe glanced and saw a larger inn at the end of the street, with a big sign hanging that read "Home Away From Home." Someone was leading a horse through the side door to the back, looking like there was a stable behind. He went straight over, "Then we’ll stay here. Shopkeeper, do you have a private courtyard I can rent? And take good care of my horse."

The waiter came forward to greet, "Guests have good taste, we have the best stables here, and the best fodder! And I’m not just talking about horses, but also the horses for the bed; we have the best hay for that too."

Zhao Changhe: "?"

Han Wubing: "..."

Seeing their expressions, the waiter smirked, "Are you looking for something without horses? You won’t find it here; everyone has them. If you don’t, how can you attract guests? Ah, when you’re away from home, what’s to be done..."

"Alright already." Zhao Changhe knew it might be impossible to find a place without ’horses’ here, so he said, "You have a private courtyard, right?"

"Yes, yes, right this way, Guest. Relax first, I’ll immediately send the girls over to ’match’ your horse."

Zhao Changhe said irritably, "No need, we want peace and quiet. Don’t let unnecessary people disturb us."

The waiter’s eyes wandered slyly over Zhao Changhe and Han Wubing, his smile carrying a hint of suggestiveness, "I got it."

Zhao Changhe was stunned for a moment, and the waiter had already left.

He turned woodenly to look at Han Wubing, "What did he mean by that?"

Han Wubing was expressionless, "It meant nothing."

"Damn it." Zhao Changhe pointed toward the rooms beside the private courtyard, "Get out, get out, get out, my reputation has been ruined by you, such bad luck."

Han Wubing entered the room with a stern face, thinking to himself, if this really got out, your reputation might be ruined, but what about mine?

I heard that the reputation of women associated with Zhao Changhe would turn unlucky, who knew even men couldn’t escape it!

Then again, despite Zhao Changhe’s rough bandit-like appearance, it turns out he’s actually so innocent that he wouldn’t even dare touch a courtesan, his face even turned a bit red.

Han Wubing found it a bit amusing; although he seemed cold, he too had sought solace in brothels during lonely times in the Worldly Society. Unexpectedly, Zhao Changhe, whom everyone thought was a bandit, turned out to be the most pure-hearted traveler.

Just as Han Wubing was applying medicine and resting, his ears suddenly perked up, and he grabbed onto the broken sword.

There were very light footsteps outside the courtyard, and he could even smell a hint of fragrance.

A foreign enemy? Or...

Han Wubing quietly looked out the window and saw a very graceful female figure standing opposite, gently knocking on Zhao Changhe’s door.

From inside came Zhao Changhe’s irritable voice, "Damn it, I said I wanted quiet, go away!"

The woman spoke softly and gently, "I know the guest doesn’t fancy women, so I dressed up as a woman to please you."

Han Wubing’s hair stood on end.

Even more hair-raising was the chaos that ensued from the room across; it sounded like even tables were knocked over. Then the door slammed open, and Zhao Changhe poked his head out, his expression extremely pleased. Then, a little cautiously, he looked over at Han Wubing’s room, suddenly reached out and pulled the "cross-dressing brother" into the room.

Han Wubing sat on his bed, hugging his knees, feeling that he was in a place more dangerous than being besieged.

I thought we were all victims of bad reputations, turns out you’re the real deal!

————

PS: Long time no see, seven seven has come, begging for monthly tickets, ying ying ying.