Chapter 130: Changhe Rushes On, Unstoppable

Chapter 130: The Long River Surges, Unstoppable

Such a challenge in the street, under the gaze of thousands, was the most open and upright, yet also the most direct. The parties involved could hardly avoid the fight. If anyone were to dodge under such circumstances, they might as well never roam the martial world again, cursed for a lifetime even worse than the Xue Sect Leader.

Though this was the most blood-stirring way of martial arts, admired by every warrior—just as Cui Yuanyong had once gone to Beimang to challenge Yue Hongling, earning her constant praise—the martial world was still about human relations and social graces. Generally, if both sides were familiar, they would not choose such a path with no retreat. If they wished to spar, they could arrange a private meeting, where victory or defeat would not harm face.

Wan Dongliu and Zhao Changhe were actually quite familiar. They had dined together, cheered together, and faced the provocations of the Hu together. The Xiaoxiang Inn where Zhao Changhe stayed was even run by the Cao Gang, and they hadn't charged him a single copper coin, feeding his horse fine fodder and letting him enjoy the top courtesan for free.

Not to mention the passersby on the street; even Xuan Chong and Tang Buqi were scratching their heads, utterly baffled.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Wan Dongliu had no way to refuse. He leaped down from the upper floor with great alacrity, cupped his fists, and said, "I never expected Brother Zhao to think so highly of me. Since you insist, I shall not decline. A battle with a hero like Brother Zhao is also my wish."

Zhao Changhe returned the gesture with a smile. "Don't say that, Brother Wan. You are twenty-three, older than me. Calling yourself 'little brother' might shorten my life."

You call Yue Hongling 'sister' and haven't seen your life shortened... Wan Dongliu muttered inwardly, feeling that Zhao Changhe's attitude wasn't too bad. What exactly was he up to?

So he asked, "Brother Zhao, if you wish to spar with me and test blades, you could have invited me privately. Why do it this way?"

Zhao Changhe laughed. "Since coming to Yangzhou, I've been trapped in a play—others' plays, my own, over and over again, quite tedious. Why not be straightforward?"

Wan Dongliu frowned. "Brother Zhao, I don't quite understand what you mean."

"The Maitreya Sect is quite skilled at seducing the suffering common folk. The Cao Gang is mostly made up of laborers, hard to resist, and has been thoroughly infiltrated. Brother Wan must be feeling quite uncomfortable?"

Wan Dongliu said flatly, "Indeed."

"So you feign compliance, as if you believe in that doctrine, but in truth, you've been seeking an opportunity... For instance, plotting to assassinate the prefect and framing the Maitreya Sect, so the imperial court would strike like thunder, crushing the Maitreya Sect. Then, riding that momentum, you could cleanse the gang, restore the Cao Gang's integrity, and from then on, Yangzhou would have no rival, the Cao Gang would dominate alone, yet the court would still see you as reliable... In the future, who would truly hold Yangzhou? Hard to say."

The onlookers on the street were too far away to hear this exchange, but upstairs, Xuan Chong and Tang Buqi's expressions changed.

This deduction was indeed reasonable. The true culprit must have had their own purpose, not just to gift the Demon Suppression Division a case. The one who benefited most seemed to be the Cao Gang, and Wan Dongliu had ample motive.

Moreover, Wan Dongliu was more familiar with the prefect's daily routines than others—the Cao Gang had always been closely tied to the authorities; hadn't the prefect attended his banquet?

But without evidence, one couldn't just rely on speculation. The Cao Gang was not one to be casually slandered.

Wan Dongliu's expression remained unchanged. He shook his head with a smile. "Brother Zhao, if you have more thoughts, feel free to speak. I'd like to hear an outsider's perspective."

Zhao Changhe said, "The Hu had no reason to come out of nowhere and slap faces. Chi Li asked Miss Yue's name, which shows he had no idea she would be present. That means this so-called number one of the Hidden Dragon was deliberately coming to challenge those of us ranked far below him. What was the point? Would winning prove how capable Chi Li was? Besides, Chi Li had killed quite a few people along the way; he should have been acting covertly. The Hidden Dragon number one isn't the Heaven List number one; why act so recklessly and court death? So it could only be that someone lured him here."

Wan Dongliu nodded and laughed. "Makes sense."

"They knew that Xuan Chong, Tang Buqi, and I, Zhao Changhe, were present, but they didn't know Yue Hongling was there. This means the guest list was leaked to the Hu in advance, and it's highly likely that along with the leak, there was a provocation—saying that the Hidden Dragon of the Central Plains thought Chi Li was overrated and not worth a fight. Chi Li, with his pride, naturally came to retaliate. That's why his first words were about 'overrated.' Otherwise, why would he care about a bunch of nobodies ranked behind him? Would he even glance at them?"

Wan Dongliu's expression showed some admiration. "Getting interesting. Brother Zhao, go on?"

"The prefect wouldn't be so bored as to come uninvited just to help the Hu humiliate the Hidden Dragon of the Central Plains, sitting there enduring the awkwardness. He must have been invited and happened to be there."

"Oh? Why would he do that?"

"Brother Wan orchestrated this fine show to let everyone—especially the Tang family—see the collusion between the prefect and the Hu. Especially if Miss Yue hadn't been there, and we had all been humiliated, our hatred would have been immense. Young Master Tang would have had a field day spreading the dirt. I thought it was absurd not to invite Miss Yue to such a gathering, but now I realize it was only natural..."

Tang Buqi: "..."

On a distant rooftop, Yue Hongling sat by the eaves, raised her gourd for a drink, and gazed over with amusement.

Zhao Changhe concluded, "Although because Miss Yue held off Chi Li, the hatred and anger didn't reach the expected level, it was close enough. The time to assassinate the prefect was then. If they waited a few more days, his death wouldn't achieve the desired effect. The events that night followed naturally, and in the end, Brother Wan's scheme succeeded smoothly."

Wan Dongliu clapped and laughed. "A very interesting idea. In fact, even if Brother Zhao's guess is correct, it doesn't seem to affect you much. Aren't there things you yourself want to do? Why come at me so fiercely?"

"Indeed, it doesn't affect me much. I just don't like being a pawn, played with and not even knowing who I'm counting money for." Zhao Changhe paused, then added, "Besides, it's not entirely unrelated to me. On my way to the banquet, I was ambushed with arrows—the same person who killed the prefect, I suspect, trying to pin the blame on the Hu. How many people knew I was coming to the banquet? Those who could have set an ambush on my route are few and far between."

Wan Dongliu smiled. "That's unfair. I was hosting guests at the time. How could I have been in two places at once?"

"Some fool told me that you all left to relieve yourselves. A quarter of an hour—with Brother Wan's lightness skill, that's more than enough."

Tang Buqi: "..."

"The attacker was skilled with bows and arrows, which easily points to the grassland Hu. Few would think that the Cao Gang, who ply the waters, use bows a lot in naval battles." Zhao Changhe smiled. "I've fought on water too. The best tool is the bow."

Wan Dongliu's expression finally turned serious, but he still waved his hand and laughed. "Too much speculation."

Zhao Changhe suddenly changed the subject, asking a seemingly unrelated question. "Brother Wan, when we first met, was that thief Ji Chengkong still around?"

Wan Dongliu said, "Still locked in my private dungeon... Brother Zhao has taken an interest in this man twice. If you really want to plead for him, I'll release him. What's the big deal?"

"I'm afraid Brother Wan might not be willing to let him go. This man saw something private of yours, perhaps something serious." Zhao Changhe smiled. "That day, Ji Chengkong had no bag with him. The thing he stole must have been a small item, something he could stuff into his pocket?"

Wan Dongliu narrowed his eyes slightly and said flatly, "Correct."

Zhao Changhe lowered his voice, so even Xuan Chong and Tang Buqi upstairs couldn't hear. "For example... a mask with a special meaning?"

Though his voice was low, it struck Wan Dongliu's ears like a great bell. His heart pounded, and his expression finally changed drastically.

"Brother Wan's reason for framing the Hu and choosing to kill me is now clear, though there might have been some misunderstanding... But I can't swallow this insult." Zhao Changhe let out a long laugh as Longque left its sheath, and he slashed with a wild blade. "Courtesy demands reciprocity. Take this strike!"

"Clang!" Wan Dongliu, prepared, raised his blade to block.

The two blades clashed, sending gravel flying and banners fluttering. The shockwave rattled nearby doors and windows.

The onlookers were all astonished. Was this a battle between those ranked seventieth or eightieth on the Hidden Dragon List?

"Brother Zhao has reached the fifth level of the Mystic Barrier."

"Same to you." Zhao Changhe grinned. "Brother Wan has quietly reached the sixth, hasn't he?"

Tang Buqi silently pulled out a Hidden Dragon List booklet from his bosom and tore it to shreds.

What else was there to do with this thing? It only misled people. You two should be in the top fifty or even top forty, hiding behind the seventieth and eightieth ranks—is that fun?

Beside him, Xuan Chong's expression was grave as he murmured, "Such fast blades!"

Tang Buqi leaned in to look, and what met his eyes was a dazzling blade light from Wan Dongliu's hand, as if the afterimage of the slash still lingered while the blade itself had already reached Zhao Changhe.

"..." Tang Buqi knew that if it were him, his head would already be gone.

Too fast, too strong. It was as if even the eastward flow of the river would be cut off by this strike, and even the towering waves would be split back!

The Cao Gang's Canglang Blade Art, Ten Breaks of the Waves!

"Clang!"

The strike that Tang Buqi thought was irresistible was met by Zhao Changhe's single-handed deflection. Longque easily pressed the Canglang blade aside, as if the surging waves had charged forward only to find an even greater wave crashing back over them.

Then, the waves clashed, and a rapid series of crisp sounds rang out like pearls falling onto a jade plate. The furious waves collided endlessly, and the onlookers could barely keep track of the blade paths!

Tang Buqi stood up in shock. "How can he be this fast too?"

Xuan Chong muttered to himself, "Why do I sense the flavor of Chi Li's Spirit Fox Blade Art?"

The two exchanged glances, utterly stunned. It wasn't an illusion—there really was that kind of flavor from Chi Li...

Chi Li used a curved blade, his strikes forming circles, the end returning to the beginning, appearing almost instantaneous. How did Zhao Changhe manage that with such a large weapon?

Such swift, delicate exchanges were not supposed to be Zhao Changhe's forte—neither in technique nor in blade. Yet he was showing them, holding his own against Wan Dongliu, and even... slightly gaining the upper hand?

"No... it's not just Chi Li's intent, but also mine." From a distance, Yue Hongling watched the battle with a dazed expression, whispering to herself. "Mine is more obvious. Not only my sword intent, but also... my technique."

The flush on her face flickered and vanished, like the morning glow rising at the horizon.

Because it truly contained the essence of her technique, gained from their dual cultivation just before dawn—not a mere imitation.

"A true genius," Xuan Chong murmured. "Even if someone taught such blade and sword intent openly, it would take an ordinary person at least ten days to half a month to grasp the essence. How long has it been for him? And this battle is also a trial; he's using Brother Wan to hone his skills. The longer he fights, the more he integrates and comprehends."

Tang Buqi also saw it. Zhao Changhe was becoming more fluid and effortless, while Wan Dongliu was growing increasingly stiff.

And this guy definitely had the Spring Water Sword Intent—it was becoming more and more apparent!

Zhao Changhe was indeed sharpening his blade, growing smoother with each clash, while Wan Dongliu's performance had no other cause—it was that low, final sentence Zhao had uttered, which even now weighed heavily on his mind. Their momentum ebbed and flowed; how could he not be defeated?

What had Zhao Changhe said in the end?

A thunderous clang rang out as the two blades collided once more with savage fury. Wind and clouds churned, waves roared, and even the plaque of Bright Moon Tower tilted with a sharp crack.

Zhao Changhe retreated three steps to absorb the violent impact, his blood surging from the strike, his battle spirit boiling over.

Wan Dongliu stumbled back five or six paces, his expression grim and heavy.

"Brother Wan! Your blade's momentum falters!" Zhao Changhe let out a long laugh, leaping into the air, gripping his blade with both hands, and slashing down with wild abandon!

Wan Dongliu looked up, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The morning sun seemed to be blocked by Zhao Changhe's figure, the sky dimming as if a shade darker. A faint halo of sunlight seeped through Zhao's form, giving the illusion of a blood-red backdrop.

In that crimson haze, a dark demonic shadow descended from the sky, as if all gods and buddhas would dissolve into smoke and dust under this single strike!

Gods and Buddhas Scatter—Zhao Changhe had few ultimate techniques, and this was his trump card.

A flicker of amusement passed through Wan Dongliu's eyes. All this pretense of weakness and retreat, wasn't it exactly what he had been waiting for?

You have too few techniques; this move has been studied and dissected by many. Its flaws and weaknesses are no longer a secret!

It concentrates all power into a single point, relying too heavily on absolute force, on the oppressive aura of bloodlust, on the momentary shock to the opponent's spirit to mask its own flaws. That's why it can't be used lightly—it seizes the instant when the enemy's spirit wanes.

But if that instant is all a feint... then with preparation, striking at the flaw, it is you who will fall!

"Swoosh!" A sharp shriek erupted as Wan Dongliu's blade, previously like a raging wolf or surging wave, suddenly transformed. The blade turned into a sword, thrusting straight at Zhao Changhe's death acupoint in the chest—the Tanzhong!

It was not just a blade, but blade light! The blade light extended over a foot, sure to strike Zhao's Tanzhong death acupoint before his Longque blade could land!

Yue Hongling gripped her sword hilt tightly.

This was not Waterways Sect martial arts. What was this?

Such a piercing killing intent, like a swordfish splitting the vast sea, like an earthworm drilling a hole through thick soil!

He had hidden so much—not just in schemes and plots, but even in his martial arts, like an earthworm buried deep in the mud.

"Pfft!"

The blade light pierced flesh, blood splattered.

Yue Hongling shot to her feet, but then smiled faintly and slowly sat back down.

Wan Dongliu's eyes gleamed with ecstasy, but then he sensed something wrong.

This blade light striking the Tanzhong should have been fatal or at least severely injuring. Yet Zhao Changhe showed no reaction! The heaven-splitting slash continued unabated, its power undiminished, crashing down onto Wan Dongliu's shoulder!

Wan Dongliu used some strange technique, his body twisting and writhing in an eerie manner. The Longque blade failed to cleave him in two, instead slicing viciously down his chest, gutting him open in a gruesome spectacle.

"Young Master!"

"Young Master!"

Many Waterways Sect members were watching nearby, expecting Wan Dongliu to win. But the situation suddenly reversed—Wan Dongliu was disemboweled, nearly split in half!

They swarmed forward, some to aid Wan Dongliu, others charging at Zhao Changhe.

A flash of red, and Yue Hongling stood before Zhao Changhe, sword in hand, saying calmly: "A street duel, a fair contest. Do you all intend to rush in together?"

The Waterways Sect crowd stood dumbfounded.

One Zhao Changhe was trouble enough; now here was Yue Hongling. Were they really a couple?

Should they report to the Sect Leader...

"Don't act rashly. I'm not dead yet." Wan Dongliu leaned weakly against a sect member, letting his subordinates stop the bleeding and bandage him.

The Waterways Sect members breathed a sigh of relief.

Wan Tianxiong had only this one son. If he died, the consequences would be no less severe than if the emperor lost his son.

At least he wasn't dead.

Wan Dongliu swallowed another pill, breathing with difficulty for a long while, then said in a low voice: "He struck my shoulder, not my neck—he anticipated this. He only wanted to give me a harsh lesson, not kill me."

He paused, then added weakly: "Thank you for your mercy, Brother Zhao. I have lost."

Zhao Changhe held his blade reversed, cupping his fist: "You're too kind. That thrust of yours was also restrained—otherwise I'd have been pierced through, not just this minor wound... That's why I aimed for the shoulder. A fair exchange."

Wan Dongliu stared at the blood seeping from Zhao's Tanzhong acupoint, incredulous: "But even if it only entered a little, the Tanzhong is still the Tanzhong. You should be gravely wounded. Why does it seem like a strike to an ordinary spot, with no effect at all?"

Zhao Changhe smiled faintly: "A secret... Besides, did you really think I didn't know my 'Gods and Buddhas Scatter' was no longer a secret? I'm not that foolish."

Wan Dongliu was silent for a moment, then shook his head: "I overreached."

"Brother Wan, I have a word of advice."

"Please speak."

"Your blade technique is the strongest I've faced among my opponents. If you hadn't started with the intention of luring me into a flaw, deliberately weakening your own momentum, the outcome might have been uncertain. Why scheme so much, only to forget the heart of a martial artist?" Zhao Changhe sheathed his blade on his back and turned to leave. "I've been guilty of that myself sometimes... Let's take it as mutual encouragement."

Wan Dongliu was silent for a long time, then slowly said: "I am taught."

Zhao Changhe stopped, looking toward the morning sun in the sky.

Yue Hongling naturally walked beside him. Seeing him pause, she too looked up.

Beneath the sun, golden light was rising.

"On the fifth day of the fifth month, Zhao Changhe, having trained in martial arts for half a year, reached the fifth level of the Mystic Barrier, blending the essence of a hundred schools, forming his own aura. At the hour of Mao, he decisively defeated Wan Dongliu at Bright Moon Tower."

"Wan Dongliu, hidden in the Canglan, sixth level of the Mystic Barrier."

"Changes in the Hidden Dragon List."

"Hidden Dragon fifty-fifth, Wan Dongliu."

"Hidden Dragon thirty-eighth, Zhao Changhe."

"The long river surges onward, unstoppable."