Chapter 312: The Value in Everyone's Heart

Chapter 312: The Value in Each Heart

The young couple exchanged glances, smiled faintly, and ascended the stairs.

Upon reaching the top, they both froze for a moment.

The upper floor was not the small attic they had imagined, but a rather spacious hall filled with many burly men holding swords and blades, all glaring fiercely at the stairway.

The Taoist who had poked his head out earlier retreated, standing beside another Taoist seated in the main seat, looking like his disciple.

The whole scene resembled a gang’s stronghold, and they had happened to walk right into the tiger’s den just as a meeting was underway.

Xia Chichi couldn’t help but blink in amusement—what incredible luck. They had only guessed that this cluttered general store belonged to the Yukum Gang, and yet the first shop they randomly picked turned out to be their headquarters, right in the middle of a meeting. There was no need to search for Tian Lingzi anymore; the Taoist in the main seat was almost certainly him.

She wondered why she had never noticed such dogged luck before. Was it because she had been hanging around her Old Zhao? That guy’s fortune had always been extraordinary.

But the young couple were bold and skilled, so they kept their composure, cupped their fists in a martial arts salute, and said, “Sorry to disturb you all. It seems we’ve come at a bad time…”

The Taoist in the main seat shook his head. “If you two are only here to buy a gourd, there’s no such thing as a bad time. When is business not possible? But if you have business with our Yukum Gang… feel free to speak directly.”

Xia Chichi asked, “Are you the esteemed Daoist Tian Lingzi?”

“Indeed,” Tian Lingzi replied. “I run an open business, so there’s nothing to hide.”

Xia Chichi smiled. “It seems you’re more interesting than those who skulk in the shadows…”

Tian Lingzi said, “Like you, perhaps?”

Xia Chichi: “…”

Couldn’t you have said ‘like the Poison Spider’ instead? Do you even know how to chat?

But to be fair, it was perfectly normal for others to be wary of them. Zhao Changhe quickly took over the conversation to salvage his wife’s dignity: “We really did come to buy a gourd. Based on what this Taoist just said, your gang has the kind of gourd we need?”

“Lightweight yet unbreakable, impervious to blades, and resistant to rust or wear—yes, we do have such a gourd. It was obtained from a certain secret realm… an ancient artifact,” Tian Lingzi said. “Though its practical value is limited, anything ancient is valuable. What price can you offer?”

“Why don’t you name a price, and we’ll see if we can afford it.”

Tian Lingzi chuckled. “We could have negotiated, but ever since you let slip the word ‘spider,’ the price has changed. So, young lady, don’t reveal your hand so easily in the future.”

Xia Chichi laughed as well. In this city of deceit and lies, where no one spoke the truth, this Taoist’s behavior was refreshingly straightforward. Even if it was just an act, it was still a relief.

She hadn’t mentioned the spider just to bargain for a gourd; it was for her husband. He needed to find the Thieves’ Sect, and how could they meet without throwing out a bomb? They couldn’t spend another five or six days beating around the bush, could they?

Xia Chichi said leisurely, “I didn’t reveal much. I’m just giving you a piece of information directly. But there are too many ears here, so I’d rather not say it.”

Tian Lingzi replied coolly, “One must be cautious. You two haven’t earned enough of my trust for a private meeting.”

Zhao Changhe smiled. “What if I told you I’m friends with someone in your gang? Would that be enough?”

Tian Lingzi asked curiously, “Who?”

“He goes by the surname Ji,” Zhao Changhe said. “If he’s here, I wouldn’t mind meeting him privately.”

Tian Lingzi paused, then laughed dryly. “So that’s it—you’re after the Thieves’ Sect. But whether you’re really a friend of Ji Chengkong or his enemy, you’ve come to the wrong place. Asking me is useless. We only cooperate with the Thieves’ Sect as one of their channels for fencing goods. We’re not part of the sect, and we don’t know where their core disciples are.”

Zhao Changhe wasn’t too surprised. “But at least you can communicate with the Thieves’ Sect.”

“That’s true. Do you have a message you’d like me to pass on?”

“Yes… Please inform them that Zhao Changhe wishes to pay respects to the Thief Saint.”

The hall fell silent for a moment, then stirred with murmurs and expressions of shock.

Zhao Changhe, the top of the Hidden Dragon List!

They had already noticed his scarred, imposing figure with a blade on his back, resembling the legendary Zhao Changhe. But lately, imitators had become more common, so no one was sure.

And now it turned out to be true. He was also bold enough to reveal his real name so casually! No one suspected it was a fake, because if he were to meet the Thief Saint and be exposed as an impostor, the consequences would be dire. Only the real deal would dare.

A man’s reputation is like a tree’s shadow. If an ordinary person revealed their identity so recklessly, they’d be seen as a fool. But if it was Zhao Changhe, people’s reaction was: truly a fearless hero.

His fame across the land was no exaggeration. In one year, he had gone from a martial arts novice to the top of the Hidden Dragon List—a terrifying potential that might never be seen again, and certainly had no precedent. Moreover, the top of the Hidden Dragon List was essentially a spot on the Human Roll. Unless he died unexpectedly, no top Hidden Dragon had ever failed to make the Human Roll. Back when Yue Hongling was second, she was treated as a renowned master wherever she went. Now, Zhao Changhe was the same, and his reputation would only be greater.

He had almost single-handedly changed the landscape of the grasslands, infiltrated deep behind enemy lines, roamed a thousand miles, and achieved victory through countless battles. Now, the barbarians were split between north and south, locked in internal strife, ensuring at least a few years of peace for the Central Plains.

Such a stirring feat was on an entirely different level from ordinary martial arts rivalries. Even villains had to give him a thumbs-up. Back in Kunlun, countless people had drunk and sighed, saying, “We’ve been in seclusion too long; we never imagined such a figure would emerge in the world.”

Even his originally crude nickname, the Bloodthirsty Asura, had become awe-inspiring. The man had truly made the name famous.

Little did they know, he had another reason for revealing his identity—the Thieves’ Sect had ties, so there was no fear in showing his face. And since everyone thought Zhao Changhe was so heroic and bold, no one would suspect he might be impersonating Wang Daozhong. When the time came, he could wipe his face clean, and Zhao Changhe would simply vanish, impossible to find.

But first, he needed to get the storage ring and hide the Dragon Sparrow inside; otherwise, it would be too easy to be exposed.

Tian Lingzi became very serious. “So it’s Young Hero Zhao in person… Then this young lady must be the Sunset Divine Sword?”

Xia Chichi’s face immediately fell. “I don’t wear red, and every day people act like I’m desperate to get married. How tacky.”

Zhao Changhe: “…”

“…” Little did Xia Chichi know, far away, the Vermilion Bird was being riddled with arrows for no reason, grinding her teeth in frustration.

Tian Lingzi laughed awkwardly. “My apologies for the slip. Well… you may all withdraw. Since it’s Young Hero Zhao, he’s not here to assassinate anyone.”

The subordinates actually agreed, rising to bow and leave. Quite a few passed by Zhao Changhe, staring at him as if he were a celebrity, while the beautiful Xia Chichi was completely ignored—like a bunch of groupies.

Regardless of good or evil, the martial world’s admiration for heroes was evident.

Actually, Zhao Changhe felt that many of his achievements had come from assassinations… well…

Tian Lingzi then instructed his disciple to notify the Thieves’ Sect, and said with a smile, “Young Hero Zhao wants to find the Thieves’ Sect; I’ve already sent my disciple to deliver the message. Now, shall we talk about our own business? What did the young lady mean by ‘spider’? You can tell me now, can’t you?”

Xia Chichi asked, “Do you have a grudge against the Poison Spider?”

Tian Lingzi laughed. “We’ve recently had a conflict with the Money Gang. The meeting earlier was to discuss the stance of other nearby gangs. The Poison Spider is one of the forces we’re keeping a close eye on, but we don’t know their leanings. That’s why your mention of ‘spider’ made us drop the meeting.”

“Then the message I want to give you is that she wants to kill you,” Xia Chichi said with a smile. “Is that enough to trade for a gourd?”

Tian Lingzi shook his head. “A single gourd—I could give it to you two for free. It’s not worth haggling over. But this message is no joke. What proof do you have?”

He had expected the somewhat mischievous girl to say, “Believe it or not, I don’t care.” Instead, Xia Chichi grew serious. “How did your conflict with the Money Gang start?”

Tian Lingzi said, “Tomorrow at noon, we’re having a negotiation banquet with the Money Gang. As everyone knows, no banquet is without danger. We have to consider every angle.”

Xia Chichi smiled. “Then it’s simple. If I help you deal with the Poison Spider tomorrow, you give me the gourd. If we can cooperate to kill her, you tell me the location of the secret realm where the gourd came from.”

Tian Lingzi found it hard to believe. “A mere gourd is really of little value. For you to be so fixated on it, I truly don’t understand.”

“Is it that hard to understand?” Xia Chichi smiled faintly. “In the martial world, some people, if you buy them a drink, might kill someone for you. The value in each heart is different—that’s all. To you, the gourd is just a trinket to admire, but to me, it’s a unique memento.”

Zhao Changhe had been silent, thinking that Chichi might be making a big deal out of it. But considering she had already made an enemy of the Poison Spider, cooperating with Tian Lingzi to eliminate the threat wasn’t a bad idea. Or perhaps Chichi was more interested in the secret realm behind the gourd?

He hadn’t expected this answer.

He turned to look at her profile. That smile, which others might find mischievous, appeared as pure as Kunlun jade in Zhao Changhe’s eyes.