Chapter 119: Where Is Not Home

Chapter 119: Where Is Not Home

The banquet was finally held on the top floor of Bright Moon Tower. Wan Dongliu, Xuan Chong, Yue Hongling, Zhao Changhe, Tang Buqi, plus a few local "Little White Dragons" from Yangzhou—fewer than ten at the table, yet five were young talents from the Hidden Dragon List, a rare sight even in Wan Dongliu’s years of generous hospitality.

The top floor had no walls, open on all sides. A bright moon hung in the distant sky, a gentle breeze carried wafts of floral scent, and one could see bridges and flowing water all around, small boats drifting leisurely, and night market lanterns along the riverbanks—a splendid night view.

With the odious officials gone, sitting like this finally had a hint of friends gathering for a drink. Wan Dongliu’s face showed no trace of his earlier fury, replaced by a look of concern: "Miss Yue, is your injury serious? Should you go rest first?"

Yue Hongling shook her head. "The interruption was timely. It’s just an external wound from the curved blade, not even internal damage from saber qi. I’ve applied medicine, so it’s fine."

Xuan Chong clapped and laughed: "Brother Zhao’s blade really has an advantage. That strike was truly ferocious; if I had been there, I’d have held back and retreated. Speaking of which, Brother Zhao’s insight is remarkable—how did you see the intent of mutual destruction at that moment? Honestly, I didn’t notice."

Zhao Changhe gave a seemingly honest smile: "I guessed. The atmosphere felt off."

Wan Dongliu said, "Brother Zhao has a keen sense for killing intent. It’s different for a man who’s faced assassinations all along the way."

Zhao Changhe glanced at him. That was true.

He hadn’t fully understood the details of Yue Hongling and Chi Li’s exchange either; it was purely intuition that something was wrong. It wasn’t even the Dragon Sparrow’s warning, since that only alerted him to threats against himself. But he wasn’t sure if this sharpness came from surviving various assassinations or from the enhanced senses granted by the Blind Man’s Eye.

If it was the former, that was good—it was something he had honed through experience. If the latter, it was a gift from the Blind Man, which might not always belong to him. Zhao Changhe wanted to figure out the exact reason for this sensitivity.

But hadn’t Wan Dongliu said he hadn’t fought anyone in a long time? Where did his judgment come from?

Tang Buqi interjected, "Brother Wan, about that foreigner market..."

Wan Dongliu waved a hand with a grim face: "I just sent people to check. Chi Li and his group aren’t there anymore."

Tang Buqi’s expression was also dark. The Tang family, whether its members were playboys or not, had a strong sense of belonging to the Great Xia, even planning to marry Tang Wanzhuang into the royal family. If any major clan was most hostile to foreigners, the Tangs were certainly among them. Today, Tang Buqi was the first to strike.

He took a deep breath and asked, "Now the Hu are sharpening their swords, with frequent small-scale skirmishes at the border, and their raids are making life unbearable for the border folk. Though His Majesty hasn’t banned trade markets yet, tolerating a martial seed like Chi Li to train and kill within our borders is too bizarre. If it were in my Gusu, I’d have hunted them down long ago, or at least expelled them. What’s Yangzhou’s stance?"

Wan Dongliu gave a faint bitter smile: "The higher-ups haven’t explicitly banned anyone from entering. Yangzhou thinks we should show the magnanimity of a great nation, so there’s little to say."

Tang Buqi sneered, "That aside, I suspect the Maitreya Sect is colluding with the Hu."

He paused, holding back the rest of his words.

The Demon Suppression Bureau’s investigation of the Maitreya Sect in Yangzhou was an uphill battle; every move seemed to plunge into a vast ocean of popular resistance, with the Canal Gang playing a disgraceful role. As a Tang family member, Tang Buqi knew these matters well. Wan Dongliu might be complicit with the Maitreya Sect, and even if his attitude toward the Hu differed, he likely wouldn’t break with the sect over it.

But the Canal Gang was hard to touch. They couldn’t just arrest Wan Dongliu and his father Wan Tianxiong; even Tang Wanzhuang was extremely cautious about this.

Wan Dongliu, as if oblivious to his thoughts, suddenly chuckled: "I say, the unpleasant guests are gone. Let’s not dwell on unhappy things. How about we talk of romance and drink till we’re drunk?"

A local youth chimed in: "Speaking of that, did Miss Yue just imply that Brother Zhao now meets her standards for a partner?"

Zhao Changhe stole a glance at Yue Hongling, thinking, here it comes.

Yue Hongling replied calmly with a smile: "Yes."

The crowd stirred: "Does that mean there’s hope?"

Yue Hongling cast a sidelong look at Zhao Changhe: "We’ll see how he performs."

Wan Dongliu clapped and laughed: "Brother Zhao! Hurry up and show us something—what are you waiting for?"

Zhao Changhe was dumbfounded for a moment before blurting out, "How do I show it?"

Yue Hongling chuckled softly.

The others were taken aback. You want to court a woman, and you’re asking us how?

Wan Dongliu asked cautiously, "Brother Zhao... have you never courted a girl before?"

Zhao Changhe thought for a moment and had to admit, "No."

With Chichi, feelings grew unnoticed, finally igniting when they yielded the fortune to each other. He’d never pursued anyone. If he tried to chase that lying enchantress, no one in the world would know where to start; she’d toy with him to death.

What others knew of his romantic entanglements was different. They asked, "Then what about Cui Yuanyang?"

I didn’t court her; she liked me on her own. Zhao Changhe couldn’t say that, so he had to reply, "I negotiated directly with Patriarch Cui."

Everyone’s expressions changed. Impressive—he’d gone straight to Cui Wenjing to propose! No wonder he was driven away. Did he think a top-tier clan would treat marriage like grabbing a mountain stronghold wife?

In other words, this man, tangled in romantic rumors, had never seriously pursued a girl. Whatever "mountain stronghold wife" stories there were, he’d probably just taken her by force.

They looked at Yue Hongling. She sat there leisurely sipping her wine, inscrutable. Wan Dongliu coughed, "Well, I’ve no experience in this either. My father arranged my marriage, and I haven’t even met the woman’s face."

Xuan Chong said, "I’m a monk. Don’t look at me."

Everyone turned to Tang Buqi. If anyone was a philandering playboy, he was the one.

Unexpectedly, Tang Buqi nearly jumped as if pricked by a needle: "You could kill me, and I still wouldn’t teach him!"

The others stared at him, baffled by his reaction.

Heaven knew what Tang Buqi was thinking: This bastard already used my aunt’s Spring Water Sword Intent against me. Am I supposed to teach him my romantic tricks to use on her too?

Is my Tang family a bunch of fools?

Meeting their strange gazes, he coughed and said, "In front of Miss Yue, you’re asking how to pursue her? Do you think she’s stupid? Use your own methods!"

Wan Dongliu blinked and sighed, "Brother Zhao, Miss Yue is clearly giving you a chance. If you can’t come up with something today, don’t blame me for thinking less of you. Are you even a man? Waiting for Miss Yue to say something herself?"

Zhao Changhe: "..."

Yue Hongling: "..."

Poor Zhao Changhe was both embarrassed and anxious, thinking, Sister Yue, what’s gotten into you today? If you’d just put on a stern face, this silly romance talk would stop. Why are you sitting there drinking in silence, like you’re watching me make a fool of myself? Or do you find it amusing, wanting to see how I’d court you?

But the way you’re acting, everyone thinks you’re interested! Look how bold they’re getting. I’m practically being roasted over the fire...

Seeing Yue Hongling truly silent, waiting to see what he’d do, Zhao Changhe finally couldn’t take it anymore. Chichi told me to let down the dam—why should I care about anything else?

He shut his eyes and blurted out loudly: "Miss Yue said her heart is in the horizon, and that’s why she refused. But I, Old Zhao, roam the jianghu, and I’m also at the horizon! If you’re willing to walk together, then where is not home?"

Damn, this guy is too direct...

Everyone looked at Yue Hongling with strange expressions, thinking this would surely make her angry or embarrassed.

But to their astonishment, Yue Hongling was neither angry nor flustered. She just quietly watched Zhao Changhe’s flushed, awkward face, and in her eyes, there was even a hint of... confusion?