Chapter 226: Rumors

Chapter 226 Rumors

“Splash, splash~” The sword-seeker by the lake saw two pig heads emerge from the water and fled in terror.

Who wouldn’t run? Two pigs crawling out of the lake was bad enough, but one of them was wreathed in smoke, a living demon!

Zhuque doubled over with laughter, finding it hilarious.

Zhao Changhe shot her a sidelong glance, inwardly full of regret.

When he entered the sword chamber, his mind had been entirely on Han Wubing’s affairs and sensing the lingering sword intent, so he hadn’t even thought to look at her. The weather was still hot, everyone’s clothes were thin—what a sight it would have been when such a curvaceous beauty got wet after diving in!

But when she emerged, she actually used her true qi to dry her clothes in an instant, leaving nothing to see.

Was the ninth level of the Profound Gate really that impressive?

He, Zhao Changhe, could only manage to dry his own body; drying clothes was far beyond him. Even if he reached a higher cultivation level later, he’d have to evaporate the moisture slowly. How could she do it instantly? Was it water extraction or drying?

Zhuque said, “What’s with that look? Regretting not sneaking a few more glances in the sword chamber?”

“No, no, I’m just in awe of your cultivation.”

“We cultivate fire-attributed true qi, so we’re naturally better at this than most.” Zhuque grinned. “Unlike you, who learned some spring-water intent from someone, always getting yourself wet for no reason.”

Zhao Changhe: “?”

Did a carriage just roll over him?

But Zhuque seemed oblivious to her own double entendre, saying leisurely, “Isn’t being all wet uncomfortable? Want me to help you out?”

“If you can, then help.”

“Call me ‘good big sister.’”

So that’s what she was waiting for? Zhao Changhe couldn’t help but laugh, but he didn’t hesitate. He actually whined, “Good big sister~”

Seeing a pig head pinch its voice and call her “good big sister,” Zhuque nearly burst out laughing. She held it in for a moment, then finally doubled over, clutching her stomach: “Hahaha…”

Zhao Changhe looked at her speechlessly.

This big sister was laughing more and more, unlike when they first met. It was as if shedding the snake face for a pig head had freed something, letting her release more behind the mask.

Zhuque seemed to realize she’d lost her composure, but she didn’t care. Still laughing breathlessly, she stood up and patted Zhao Changhe on the shoulder.

Scorching true qi surged through him instantly, and amid a cloud of steam, his clothes dried directly.

Zhao Changhe was awed: “Impressive…”

“Want to learn?” Zhuque said with a smile. “Join the sect, and I’ll teach you.”

Zhao Changhe remained silent, took a big stride, and headed straight for the city.

Zhuque snorted and followed.

Jianhu City had always been a peculiar place. Zhao Changhe had learned that last time he was here. Officially, it was only a town in the imperial administrative system, but its prosperity came entirely from “tourism.” The city had expanded, yet the court never upgraded its status—it remained a town. There wasn’t even a yamen in the town; it had become a “lawless land” where various gangs and sects mingled.

Last time, Zhao Changhe had wondered: without a yamen, who collected taxes? Could the local clerks control these unruly gangs?

The Demon Suppression Bureau didn’t have an independent office either. For some reason, they had set up their base in a brothel. Over time, sharp-minded top-tier groups like the Four Symbols Sect had more or less guessed the nature of the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion, though it was unclear if the local gangs knew.

In short, this situation was very wuxia, but very unrealistic. Its formation must have had reasons, but he hadn’t delved deeper last time.

Familiar with the path, he reached the bamboo grove behind the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion. The guards were the same as before, but the pig head was a new one. As expected, they were stopped: “You two, this is a private bamboo grove, not a place for romance…”

Zhuque: “…”

Why did everyone think they were flirting? Even those robbers earlier said the same.

Just because they wore matching pig masks, why did it have to be romance?

Zhao Changhe didn’t remove his mask either. He quietly took out his jade token and showed it. The guards instantly stiffened, glanced around, and lowered their voices: “Greetings, Secret Envoy. What are your orders?”

Tsk, it seemed this token was high-ranking—not a spy, but an envoy.

Zhuque glanced at him sidelong but said nothing. This token was likely Tang Wanzhuang’s personal one, representing her presence. This young man had no idea that from the moment he accepted it, he stood for Tang Wanzhuang, not just a subordinate spy.

Being toyed with by a big sister and not even knowing it.

Zhao Changhe puffed out his pig head, putting on the airs of a secret envoy: “Take us inside. Who’s in charge here now? Have them come see me.”

With that, he walked familiarly into the courtyard, heading straight for the bamboo building where Tang Wanzhuang had stayed. The guards found it natural and hurried off to inform the person in charge.

Soon, a middle-aged man in a tight outfit rushed upstairs and bowed: “Subordinate Wei Zicai, Purple Token of Jianhu City. What are the Envoy’s orders?”

“I want the full story of Han Wubing’s matter.”

Wei Zicai was very straightforward: “He clashed with Ji Yinan of the Tianyi Gang and killed him in the fight. The Pinghu Society stepped in for the Tianyi Gang, and the two gangs joined forces to capture Han Wubing. Unable to withstand their combined strength, he was forced to flee. The Tianyi Gang was then absorbed by the Pinghu Society.”

Zhao Changhe’s first reaction was that something was off: “Absorbed?”

Wei Zicai showed a hint of a smile: “Yes… So it’s still unknown whether Ji Yinan was actually killed by Han Wubing. It might have been Yan Lianping’s doing. By framing Han Wubing, they could rally both gangs to capture him, force out the location of the ancient sword and the source of Han Wubing’s new sword techniques, and at the same time smoothly take over the Tianyi Gang—killing two birds with one stone.”

This was true jianghu business. Having just left the Wang family affair, Zhao Changhe and Zhuque almost simultaneously felt a shift from court politics to the martial world, as if they had entered a different realm.

But honestly, this was what they preferred. At least Zhao Changhe’s interest in such matters far exceeded lofty discussions of world affairs.

Hearing that Han Wubing had only fled and was safe, Zhao Changhe felt much relieved. He asked further, “Han Wubing was in seclusion. How did his new sword techniques get exposed, and why did it involve gang conflicts? Was it because he was seen in the city and aroused suspicion?”

“Han Wubing occasionally came to the city to buy supplies, which was normal. He did the same when he lived in a hut by the lake before, and no one paid attention.” Wei Zicai said, “What really exposed him was when he stood up for Zhao Changhe.”

“?” Zhao Changhe was startled. “How did it involve Zhao Changhe? Explain.”

“Someone spread a rumor that Zhao Changhe’s physique and broadsword didn’t look Central Plains—maybe he was a grassland spy, possibly the illegitimate son of the Mad Lion He Lei. Han Wubing heard it while shopping, flew into a rage, and in the fight that followed, he revealed sword techniques far beyond what he had learned at the Sword Hut. That’s when people suspected he had uncovered the secret of Sword Lake.”

Zhao Changhe fell silent.

Zhuque glanced at him. This guy was truly loyal… Han Wubing had only fled and wasn’t dead, so this matter might not have needed deep investigation. But now, there was no way Zhao Changhe would let it go.

Zhao Changhe took a deep breath: “The Emperor himself used that kind of blade in his campaigns. Where does this ‘grassland style’ come from? Do people actually believe such nonsense?”

“There are many fools in the world. If someone says it, someone will believe it.” Wei Zicai said, “This rumor might have deeper implications. I sent a letter to the Chief a couple of days ago. Now that the Envoy is here, it’s even better…”

Zhao Changhe frowned. Yes, using his origins as a pretext was a sensitive move, aiming to fundamentally undermine his legitimacy as the heir of Daxia. It sounded like something the Four Symbols Sect would do.

He turned to look at Zhuque, who met his gaze coldly. Zhao Changhe smiled and shook his head. Of course, it wasn’t the Four Symbols Sect. Times had changed; the sect was now planning to recruit him. Doing this would no longer benefit them.

It could be the Wang family, the Maitreya Sect, or even the foreign tribes?

“When did this happen?”

“Three days ago.”

Three days ago—the Wang family was the most likely, since this place wasn’t far from Langya.

But then again, Han Wubing’s martial arts were exposed because of this incident, but the Tianyi Gang and Pinghu Society coming after him might not be directly related. There could be other circumstances—Han Wubing might have been caught up in a different conflict.

Because Jianhu City was a complete anomaly, and there had to be secrets beneath the surface.

Zhao Changhe pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, “Why is Jianhu City organized the way it is now? Can you explain in detail, Purple Token Wei?”