Chapter 397: The Grand Play Begins

Chapter 397: The Grand Opera Begins

Zhao Changhe sat in the outer hall primarily to evade tedious social pleasantries, and also out of dread for the pressure of facing a romantic battlefield inside, but in truth, a hidden motive lay beneath:

Do not stand directly at the vanguard of the storm to dispute whether someone could be cured or whose face would be slapped. It was better to wait for others to administer treatment first or debate their medical opinions, allowing him to synthesize their analyses from the sidelines to feel more grounded. If he were trapped inside by the likes of Wang Daozhong for a few verbal jabs, it would be difficult to dodge; it was far better to hide outside, where a bystander sees most clearly.

Wang Daozhong must have seen through this. Zhao Changhe could not have run all this way merely to offer birthday congratulations; he would highly likely participate in the post-banquet affairs. This was a deliberate provocation to prevent him from hiding, forcing him onto the vanguard of the storm.

Old Wang was no fool, but the price might prove a bit steep—a consequence he perhaps had never considered...

Looking at the Thunderbolt Sword standing before him, Zhao Changhe leisurely chewed on a chicken drumstick, speaking with unhurried ease: "To challenge a guest at another's banquet before the host has even spoken—the etiquette of the Wang family is now well understood by this humble self..."

That Ding Ting burst into a mocking laugh. "Is Your Excellency not a bandit? You pride yourself quite a bit on being a bandit, so when have you ever cared for etiquette? Could it be that you are afraid?"

Zhao Changhe finally set down the clean-chewed bone and wiped his hands, saying, "I merely feel your ranking is a bit low. The Chronicle of the Turbulent World won't even flash for this. Fighting you is rather meaningless..."

Furious, Ding Ting drew his sword. "Please grant me instruction!"

"Shuan!" A sword thrust directly toward his face.

Ding Ting was dubbed the "Thunderbolt Sword" chiefly to describe the swift fierceness of his blade, yet this single strike was only meant to force his opponent from his seat to draw a saber; it was not truly fast, executed with restrained strength.

Yet in the eyes of onlookers, it was already blindingly fast. Almost the very moment the rasp of drawing steel arose, the sword-light had arrived before his face.

Zhao Changhe himself felt little about the Heaven, Earth, and Human Rankings, but in truth, those across the realm who could ascend them were few. Wherever an expert of the Human Ranking went, they merited the title of "Grandmaster." Even when just playing around, their moves were not something an ordinary person could receive for a single stanza.

In the outer hall, countless men broke into a cold sweat, knowing that if they faced this sword, they could not dodge it at all!

Under the watchful eyes of the multitude, a flash of blood-red saber-light ignited.

No one knew where his saber had been before.

Nor did anyone know how he had drawn it.

The bloody light flashed, and a miserable shriek arose.

Ding Ting's treasured sword clashed to the ground with a "dang" as he retreated, clutching his wrist. From his appearance, one could not tell if his tendons were severed.

Splatters of blood sprayed like rain.

Listening to the Spring Rain All Night in a Small Tower.

Tang Wanzhuang's eyes grew misty. Whenever she beheld this technique, she always thought it beautiful, as if it were teasing her.

So very Tang.

Over there, Ding Ting flew backward clutching his wrist. His tendons were indeed severed, with only a sliver left connected. Fortunately, famous physicians were gathered here today; if treated quickly, there was still hope of saving it. At any other time or place, it would likely be ruined for good... Ding Ting had no leisure to shout harsh words at Zhao Changhe, rushing swiftly back into the inner hall: "Mister Cai, Mister Cai..."

The entire assembly fell deathly silent; even Yang Jingxiu and Wang Daozhong froze where they stood.

No one had ever imagined that Zhao Changhe, without even rising from his seat, would use a single saber stroke to instantly defeat the Thunderbolt Sword, whose ranking was nearly his equal.

This was already due to Ding Ting's quick reflexes; had he been a beat slower, it would not be a severed tendon, but his entire hand chopped off, a wound for which no amount of famous physicians here could help...

Zhao Changhe sighed, leisurely sipping his wine. "Did you truly think my surname was Xue... that anyone could just take a squeeze at me?"

"..."

The atmosphere remained quiet for several breaths before Wang Daozhong struck the table in a fury. "Zhao Changhe! At a birthday banquet, it is merely a martial contest for mutual improvement, and Ding Ting was only testing your blade. Yet you took the opportunity to deal such a cruel blow! Where is your martial virtue!"

"Yo..." Zhao Changhe did not even raise his eyelids. "A mere puppet barking madly here—have I given you too much face?"

Others could not understand the reference, but Wang Daozhong was nearly driven to a myocardial infarction by anger.

You actually bring up that matter! When has anyone ever seen such a brazen, shameless scoundrel?

Zhao Changhe said unhurriedly, "I originally wished to be polite. I asked just now: challenging a guest at another's birthday banquet, does that conform to etiquette? Since both Mister Wang and Mister Ding believed etiquette unnecessary, and even said I thought too much as a self-proclaimed bandit, isn't that splendid? I am quite skilled at being a bandit; you all ought to learn a thing or two."

Huangfu Qing and Tang Wanzhuang had seemingly been watching the play without a word, but at this moment, they finally revealed smiles simultaneously.

Then, catching a glimpse of the other's smile, they glanced at each other and simultaneously pulled back their expressions.

Wang Daozhong's lungs were bursting with rage. He actually turned to Tang Wanzhuang in a daze: "Chief Tang, what does the Demon Suppression Department have to say about such a violent crime?"

"It is indeed rather improper," Tang Wanzhuang said with a solemn countenance. "Utterly lawless!"

Wang Daozhong felt a surge of joy, only to hear Tang Wanzhuang continue: "Once the matters here are concluded, this Chief will personally take this man back for interrogation and confinement."

Wang Daozhong: "?"

Once the matters here are concluded? I fear you are taking him back to kiss him! This Chief cannot be relied upon.

Suppressing his fury, Wang Daozhong turned to Huangfu Qing: "Your Highness..."

Huangfu Qing started as if waking from a dream, letting out an "Ah?", and frowned with a look of deep aversion toward this bandit: "The Wang family minister speaks rightly. This Palace must report to His Majesty; this youth..."

"Forget it, Your Highness." This was highly suspected to be His Majesty's biological son; who under heaven would lodge a complaint?

Wang Daozhong finally calmed down, knowing full well that using open and honorable methods could not shake Zhao Changhe in the slightest. The challenge he sent was a bitter fruit he must swallow himself.

When had Zhao Changhe ever possessed such momentum? It was truly terrifying.

He knew why Zhao Changhe had struck such a ruthless blow regardless of martial virtue. The Wang family was firmly established as an enemy; weakening you by a fraction whenever the opportunity arose was standard—who would be courteous with you? Yet he had never thought that a simple measure to force Zhao Changhe from behind the scenes to the stage would actually ruin a capable subordinate's short-term combat strength. One could only say that many who had never witnessed Zhao Changhe's ruthlessness firsthand failed to understand it adequately, truly believing the man only whispered sweet words among women...

But regardless, the initial purpose of sending someone to challenge had still been achieved, forcing Zhao Changhe directly to the fore under the eyes of the multitude, unable to hide behind to do anything quietly.

At this moment, an elder bandaged Ding Ting's wrist and said with a serious expression, "Fortunately, treatment was timely; the hand can still be preserved. Mister Ding must absolutely not engage in martial conflict within a month, otherwise even the Lord of Heaven cannot save it."

Sweating profusely, Ding Ting offered his thanks: "Many thanks, Mister Cai."

Cai Wenque, known as the Foe of Yama, ranked twenty-third on the Earth Ranking.

The catastrophe of a severed tendon was an extremely troublesome matter for anyone, yet to him, it seemed resolved with great ease.

Previously, Zhao Changhe had wished to seek him out to ask about medical arts, but was told he could not be found; who knew where Yang Jingxiu had invited him from?

Seeing Cai Wenque cure Ding Ting, Yang Jingxiu also found an appropriate entry point for conversation: "Mister Cai is indeed a divine hand. Admirable, admirable."

Cai Wenque clasped his hands and said, "I dare not accept. I hear Mister Yang has also felt some discomfort in your body recently?"

"Correct," Yang Jingxiu said. "Striking the Third Hidden Treasury is universally known to be highly difficult. I attempted it and felt my spirit terrace rather heavy and my mental energy lacking. Though it does not affect my strength, I worry it might impact subsequent breakthroughs, hence I widely invited famous physicians to eliminate this hidden peril."

Cai Wenque said, "May I take your pulse?"

Yang Jingxiu readily extended his hand. "Please, Mister."

Cai Wenque stepped forward, placing his fingers upon Yang Jingxiu's pulse, his expression gradually turning to astonishment.

The pulse-state was incomparably vigorous, his strength unfathomably deep, absolutely much higher than his own cultivation—worthy of being in the top ten of the Earth Ranking. People said the Yang family had declined, yet this accumulation of theirs was not something ordinary people could compare to.

So there was no illness at all?

As for the divine soul, it was also... Huh?

Just as he thought this, he perceived that Yang Jingxiu's divine soul suddenly seemed to vanish. His own perception felt as if it had plunged into some pitch-black space, a complete vacuum, vast and unseen.

To say he was dead, yet one could broadly feel a presence existed, perhaps in a deep slumber?

But to say a deep slumber, one could not find where it was.

How ghostly. This was...

Cai Wenque raised his head to glance at Yang Jingxiu. Yang Jingxiu was smiling faintly; where was there any sign of a lost divine soul?

—This was using powerful cultivation to connect the Lianshan Sword he carried with himself. What others inspected appeared to be his own divine soul, but in reality, they were inspecting the condition of the Lianshan Sword's sword-spirit.

Huangfu Qing faintly perceived this, feeling secretly astonished in her heart.

Yang Jingxiu did not show his hand or reveal his water, yet this move was formidable. Was this tenth place on the Earth Ranking perhaps a bit low? At least He Lei, who was seventh back then, likely did not possess this level... It was on par with her own level before her breakthrough; back then, she would truly have had no certainty of victory over him.

One can only say that the Chaos Era Rankings are merely for reference; they have not fought anyone in a long time, so the rankings are unreliable.

Over there, Tang Wanzhuang was also watching, a hint of anticipation in her heart.

If this Cai Wenque could resolve the issue of the Lianshan Sword Spirit, might it also be of help to her own condition?

Amidst the eager anticipation of all, Cai Wenque slowly spoke: "In my view, the Patriarch's problem might be..."

"Hold on," Wang Daozhong interrupted. "Medical analysis can be shared with Brother Yang in private, or after the other physicians have finished, we can all speak together. For instance, that rogue brother over there, would you like to take a look?"

Zhao Changhe ground his teeth.

No one believes I came to treat the illness, so why are you staring at me like that?

What infuriated him was that he had been right to stare and right to guard—his own desire to eavesdrop on others' opinions was directly strangled at its birth.

Zhao Changhe wished he could strangle Wang Daozhong right there as well, but could only stand up and stride toward the main hall: "In treating Senior Yang, we should pool our wisdom and benefit from collective discussion—everyone offers useful insights, consult each other, and perhaps gain something. In some people's eyes, is this merely a means for personal fame? Where did this village gossip come from, so petty and narrow-minded?"

"I'm petty? Then don't use my name!"

Wang Daozhong couldn't be bothered with him, and said coldly: "Then let us wait for Young Master Zhao to cast a brick to attract jade, and see how he pools our wisdom."

Zhao Changhe was quite helpless, and reaching out, asked Yang Jingxiu: "Senior, may I take a look?"

At this moment, Yang Jingxiu was actually full of displeasure—not directed at Zhao Changhe, but at Wang Daozhong. "What the hell are you playing at? I want to be treated, and you're here yapping away like a mother hen?"

Old Yang had already cursed him out in his heart, but couldn't afford to fall out openly, so his words began to carry a sarcastic edge: "Nephew, your intention is certainly good. In learning, there is no order of seniority; those who attain mastery are teachers. Pooling wisdom may lead to progress. Medicine is like martial arts—some people are repeatedly bested by their juniors, and perhaps the root lies here."

Wang Daozhong pretended not to understand, his eyes fixed intently on Zhao Changhe, waiting only for him to say he could do nothing, so he could first drive him out of the game.

This was a power struggle, extremely important—it really wasn't that he was petty. For the sake of the Wang family's great enterprise, was it easy for him?

Zhao Changhe's hand rested on Yang Jingxiu's body.

Tang Wanzhuang and Huangfu Qing both instinctively leaned forward, their eyes fixed on every change.

Then they exchanged another glance and leaned back again.

At that moment, Cui Yuanyang's voice transmission reached Tang Wanzhuang's ear: "The First Seat told me to watch for anomalies in the Wang family... This Physician Cai entered the Wang residence yesterday and had a deep conversation with Wang Daozhong for at least half an hour."

Tang Wanzhuang narrowed her eyes.