Chapter 242: When Have I Ever Looked Highly Upon Marquises and Kings

Chapter 242: When Have I Ever Deigned to Look at Nobles?

Watching Zhao Changhe drink to his heart's content, Huangfu Shaozong was speechless. This fellow truly struck a perfect pose—if this wave could make him famous in the capital, half the credit went to the crowd, and the other half to the image he crafted himself.

Not listening to names, not drawing his blade, not rising, using one hand, too little wine.

He had put on all the airs, and yet he indeed had the ability to be arrogant. If Huangfu Shaozong himself didn't step forward, there was truly no one else who could make him budge.

He deserved the fame.

Learned, learned.

Until Zhao Changhe finished that bowl, no one else dared to step up and challenge. It was a vivid lesson for the capital's youth—why the Hidden Dragon List was what it was.

Countless martial artists under heaven, only two or three hundred on the list. Why?

If not far surpassing one's peers, how could one be called a Hidden Dragon? Those on and off the list were never on the same track, let alone Zhao Changhe, who ranked among the top of the Hidden Dragons!

Especially when Zhao Changhe, at merely the fifth or sixth level of the Mystic Barrier, stood out among a group of peers at the seventh or eighth level, a crane among chickens—only then did people understand why.

His reputation was no empty boast.

Let alone others, even Huangfu Shaozong at this moment abandoned the thought of crossing hands with Zhao Changhe. He realized he might very well lose. Better to maintain his face as two ranks higher; if they really fought, what use would it be to force out his blade? He'd only hand over his own ranking—now that would be true hospitality.

Better this way—while others feared Zhao Changhe, he, as the eleventh, also earned a bit more respect, no?

In the silence, the waiter, full of admiration, carried a new jar of wine upstairs, placed it before Zhao Changhe, and bowed obsequiously: "Our boss says this wine is on the house, as a tribute to a hero."

Huangfu Shaozong twitched his mouth: "What, does Young Master have no money?"

"No, no, that's not the intent at all."

Huangfu Shaozong slapped a gold leaf heavily on the table: "Go, fetch ten more jars, and bring up the signature dishes quickly! I'm treating—do you think I'd let you take the credit for the goodwill? I'm not stupid."

Zhao Changhe chuckled: "Brother Huangfu, whether you treat or not, I am very grateful to you."

Huangfu Shaozong gave him a meaningful look for a long moment, then sighed: "I set up a stage for you to show off in public, didn't I?"

Zhao Changhe clapped his hands and laughed: "Brother Huangfu is quite a character too."

Huangfu Shaozong gestured to his attendants: "Carry them out."

The marquis's servants stepped forward and carried the challengers, sprawled all over the floor, downstairs. The atmosphere quieted for a while, and only then did Huangfu Shaozong regain his composure, pouring wine leisurely: "Brother Zhao, aren't you being a bit too ostentatious?"

Zhao Changhe smiled ambiguously: "Isn't this the stage you set up, Brother Huangfu?"

"I never imagined you'd be so unrestrained and arrogant. I thought you'd be a bit more low-key, a bit more modest... after all..."

"Bystanders clap and laugh at my carefree madness—what harm in madness, what harm in abandon?" Zhao Changhe raised his bowl again and drained it: "Since I'm here, what use is cowering? If this is all the storm there is, I'd be disappointed."

"Rumble!" Dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and rain poured down.

The sky turned completely dark.

The noisy tavern fell silent; rain battered the terrace outside, while inside, all was still.

Huangfu Shaozong's eyes were filled with undisguised admiration. What an interesting man this was—no wonder his sister had told him to get closer.

It seemed that this man's entry into the capital would surely stir up storms... Yet here he sat high in the pavilion, drinking freely, while the entire capital remained deathly silent. Apart from the young challengers to the Hidden Dragon, the anticipated turmoil never occurred.

As if a man at the sixth level of the Mystic Barrier had suppressed an entire capital.

Though he knew it wasn't really so... his sudden entry into the capital had caught others off guard, and even deciding how to treat him might require a day or two of heated debate before reaching a conclusion. Moreover, each had their own concerns—for instance, did Huangfu Shaozong's identity and the imperial consort behind him already signal a certain inclination?

If someone made a move, would another intercept, and then everything would be laid on the table—whose wish would that be?

The imperial succession struggle was fraught with caution; no one dared to show their hand easily. Xia Longyuan was still alive...

And so, they let him rant and rave, laugh and curse, while the capital remained silent.

Where was the dragon's den or tiger's lair? Nothing more!

Though he knew the reasons, Huangfu Shaozong couldn't help but admire him. At the sixth level of the Mystic Barrier, entering the capital as the focal point of the storm, facing countless masters on the Earth and Heaven Lists, and myriad forces like thousands of troops—who else could manage such a proud and disdainful gaze?

In the eyes of those who noticed, it was almost a declaration: In this realm today, who else but me?

From a distant pavilion, Tang Wanzhuang watched quietly, her beautiful eyes growing misty. Opposite her, Zhuque crossed her arms.

"Brother Huangfu." After many rounds of toasts and cups, as the night deepened, Zhao Changhe seemed tipsy: "Is there a gambling house around here? I'm fond of a few rounds of gambling in my spare time."

I thought you were going to ask if there was a brothel here... Right across is the Yihong Pavilion; if I tag along with you, my sister won't scold me. Why ask about a gambling den?

I've never heard of this man being fond of gambling... Could he mean gambling with his life?

Huangfu Shaozong's thoughts raced, and he said slowly: "There is... at the end of this street, turn the corner, and you'll find the Anle Gambling House."

"Oh, Kangle, Anle—are they a chain?"

Huangfu Shaozong shook his head: "Never heard of Kangle Gambling House."

"Oh..." Zhao Changhe tapped his head: "That shabby gambling house is far off at Sword Lake; it's no surprise you capital gentlemen haven't heard of it. How about it, care to join me for a bit of fun?"

"Better not. My family punishes this sort of thing severely... I'm afraid my elder sister would break my legs if she found out. If Brother Zhao wants to go, go on your own."

"Alright, I'll go play by myself."

In the wind and rain, Zhao Changhe staggered out of the tavern: "I've had my fill of pleasure. Many thanks for Brother Huangfu's hospitality."

Huangfu Shaozong stood upstairs looking down. He didn't know why Zhao Changhe wanted to go to a gambling house, but he knew that Zhao Changhe deliberately went out alone for a reason, so he purposely didn't see him off.

A straight avenue, a rain-soaked street. Lanterns swayed left and right in the rain, creaking, mingling with the crackling sound of the downpour to form a unique symphony.

Few pedestrians hurried by under umbrellas; a staggering drunkard walked down the middle of the road, as if no one else existed.

If at that moment a flash of sword light had suddenly appeared, wouldn't it have been particularly fitting?

Yet until Zhao Changhe had walked the entire rain-drenched street, nothing stirred.

As if he hadn't had enough wine, Zhao Changhe pulled out his gourd, tilted his head back, took a big gulp, and laughed as he walked away: "The smoke and clouds of the capital—nothing more! So it turns out that only the pure Master Dai can bring the most straightforward answer. You and I, before this, thought too much!"

No one knew who "you" referred to; everyone who heard it felt it was directed at themselves.

But the real "you" was still in the Four Symbols Sect.

"Bang!" Zhao Changhe staggered and pushed open the gambling house door.

The doorman hurriedly blocked him: "Young master, no weapons are allowed inside the gambling house."

Zhao Changhe squinted at him, grinning: "What if I'm gambling with this very blade?"

"Rumble!" Thunder rolled again in the sky.

From inside the gambling house, a sigh finally came: "This wager—no one in the capital dares to accept it."

Zhao Changhe laughed: "Not even the eighth on the Heaven List?"

"Not even he dares, and besides, the Fifth Master isn't here, so we wouldn't presume to make that decision for him." The man said unhurriedly: "But allowing the young master to enter with his blade is no problem... A gambling house is more than just a gambling house—we have the finest hot springs, the best croupiers, to accompany you on your journey."

"Not bad, not bad. You're more interesting than Huangfu Shaozong."

"Noble families have too many scruples, whether it's the Huangfu, the Cui, or the Tang. We ruffians have fewer rules—when a guest arrives, we receive him. Please, young master."

"Who says we have scruples?" Behind him came Baoqin's indignant voice: "Young Master Zhao is a friend of our young master, and he helped our house expose the Maitreya Sect's conspiracy. Our young lady said we should have received him properly, but we were busy today and asked Young Master Huangfu to act as host."

Zhao Changhe twitched his mouth. What are you doing? I have business!

Could it be that hearing about croupiers and hot springs made you anxious...

The man in the gambling house also sounded helpless: "Since Miss Qin says so, we have no reason to force a guest. As you wish."

Before the words had faded, Huangfu Shaozong hurried over: "Ah, Brother Zhao, although I cannot accompany you into the gambling den, the guest courtyard at home is fully prepared, the maids are gentle..."

Before he could finish, a shrill voice came from afar: "By the Empress's decree, Zhao Changhe is summoned to the palace for an audience."

It was as if the wind and rain paused for a beat. Zhao Changhe laughed heartily: "What Empress, what Chief, what Marquis. I want to enter the gambling den—what business is it of yours?"

With that, he ignored everyone and strode straight through the door.

Huangfu Shaozong opened his mouth, then closed it again. Baoqin fled in tears.

In the distance stood an old eunuch, trembling with rage: "Outrageous..."