The Blade-Wielding Legend
Chapter 243 - 170 Chaos in Chang’an

Chapter 243: Chapter 170 Chaos in Chang’an

"Emergency aid in the pugilistic world, huh..."

Hearing Zhao Wanfang’s sarcastic words, Li Yan remained poker-faced.

After leaving the Li family, he thought for a bit and realized he had nowhere to go.

The current instability in Chang’an City, Bai Ruoxu being a follower of the Maitreya Sect, was bound to involve a large number of people.

Moreover, with the incidents involving Feng Feiyan, the Five Elements of the pugilistic world were certain to be in disarray, and those known inns were no longer safe.

The leather workshop of Uncle Hei Dan and his nephew, Shen Sanyou’s place, could offer temporary hiding spots, but the odor there was simply intolerable.

Li Yan would rather fight with someone than stay there.

A brothel had comfortable, large beds and offered both meat and wine; naturally, it was the best choice. Besides, information was readily available there, allowing one to catch wind of any news at the earliest opportunity.

He knew why Zhao Wanfang was using sarcasm.

She probably hadn’t given up and was looking for someone to take revenge.

Several times when constables came to invite him, he dodged by pretending to be too busy.

Seeing him join in the conversation, Zhao Wanfang came over and sat at the table, pulling a piece of paper from her bosom, her expression serious as she spoke softly, "I’ve been gathering information from various provinces during this time."

"A while back, there were numerous incidents in Ezhou involving ghost brides murdering people in midnight bridal processions, which caused public panic. I suspect that the ’Red Lady’ could not restrain her murderous impulse and exposed her whereabouts..."

After listening, Li Yan helplessly set down his wine cup, "Those people are formidable, a nuisance even to the court of the Great Xuan Dynasty. With our strength, we can’t deal with them."

"I’ve already given up, so why are you still so persistent?"

Zhao Wanfang fell silent for a moment, "If not for vengeance, then what?"

Li Yan spread his hands, "There’s plenty to do, for instance, you could save up some money, redeem yourself, or marry someone and live a peaceful life. Isn’t that good enough?"

"Marry someone?"

A trace of mockery appeared in Zhao Wanfang’s eyes, "There’s no such thing as a free lunch in this world. I grew up in a brothel and saw enough concubines sold here, as well as desperate wives making scenes. They all depend on men to live, but life in a brothel is actually more carefree..."

"Do you see those famous courtesans amassing wealth in the first half of their lives, thinking they’ve found a perfect gentleman, only to end up with a tragic fate?"

"Some things have nothing to do with money..."

After hearing this, Li Yan remained silent.

He had come to understand why Zhao Wanfang was so determined.

Revenge?

Having grown accustomed to the fickleness of human relationships, and the frigidness of society from a young age, and without any fond memories of her childhood, how could she still cling to the death of a mother whose real name she didn’t even know?

Whether she could take revenge

Perhaps it no longer mattered.

Revenge was just the motivation for her to keep going.

This was not unusual.

Not everyone lives just for money and power.

Leading a carefree life without ambition is a way to live.

Treasuring a certain hobby is also a way to live.

In his previous life, a friend had said, "Our existence is finite, coming to this world for a visit, bewildered and at a loss, having something to do, just passing through life is enough..."

Realizing this, Li Yan no longer tried to persuade her. He raised an eyebrow, picked up his wine cup and took a sip, "You want revenge. That’s fine, but with your current capabilities, it’s truly not enough."

"Do you know why Chang’an City is on edge?"

"It’s all because a Maitreya Sect leader known as ’Tomb Snake’ was caught."

"Your nemesis, Auntie Liu, is just a subordinate of the ’Red Lady,’ who’s a more formidable figure than ’Tomb Snake,’ but she’s just one of Zhao Changsheng’s pawns."

"To seek revenge, skills and spells aren’t enough."

After hearing this, Zhao Wanfang was silent for a while, seemingly having made up her mind, she said earnestly, "Thank you."

Her eyes showed no disappointment, instead, they were filled with determination.

Li Yan took a sip of his wine, "No need."

Zhao Wanfang gave a slight nod, "What’s your plan next? Just hide here until the Lantern Festival is over?"

Li Yan looked out the window, contemplating:

"First, I need to figure out exactly what happened..."

...

Obtaining information can be tricky, depending on the person.

With Luo Mingzi absent and Guan Wanche tight-lipped, the pugilistic world in Chang’an was in chaos, so I had to look for an outsider.

And this person needed to have the capacity and unconventional methods.

"Hey!"

Shen Sanyou, the Night Crier, entered and immediately exclaimed, "You lad, sending over some trinkets for the New Year, I thought, despite everything, we were companions bonded over meat and wine. I waited and waited but never saw you hosting a feast."

"Turns out you’re here, living it up!"

Li Yan shook his head speechlessly, "Senior, I just drank and sang with you, and you labeled me a regular customer of the brothel. Even I haven’t said anything yet..."

Shen Sanyou looked around, "Isn’t that so?"

Pfft!

Zhao Wanfang couldn’t help but cover her mouth, giggling.

Li Yan: "..."

Shen Sanyou didn’t let him off, sitting down with great interest, "Word about this is not just from me. Do you know what you did last night when you were drunk?"

Li Yan had a bad feeling rising in his heart.

"What did I do?"

Shen Sanyou, with animated enthusiasm, said, "The ladies came one by one, and you called them charmless and lacking uniqueness, demanding ’Spring Orchid and Autumn Chrysanthemum,’ each with their own grace, to truly make a bouquet charming..."

"Even the rarely-seen proprietress of the Huawei Building was stirred and came to pay you respect."

"You told her that Huawei Building was just average, and could be completely transformed, like constructing a Jiangnan Water Town Pavilion, filled with gentle dialects, or a frontier atmosphere with a Silk Road melancholy..."

"A tour through Divine State in a day, and Huawei Building would surely become famous!"

Li Yan was stunned, "She believed that?"

"Of course, she did!"

Shen Sanyou was amused, "The proprietress was profoundly convinced, praising your family’s deep roots. It’s said that Huawei Building has already hired skilled craftsmen, ready to start construction after the beginning of spring..."

Li Yan clenched his teeth, "And they still charged me a thousand taels?"

Shen Sanyou spread his hands, "In the end, she intended to treat you, but you weren’t happy, saying you hate freeloading..."

"Wasn’t it you who wanted to forcefully spend all my money?"

"It’s ridiculous, I, the Night Crier, have always loved to freeload!"