Chapter 437: Sharing Righteousness to Swallow the Long Rainbow

Chapter 437: Righteous Spirit Swallows the Rainbow

Realizing it was unlikely to extract more news of Sword Hut from Zhai Muzhi, and even less daring to ask him directly about Yue Hongling,

There was nothing more to say... Zhao Changhe didn't linger with Zhai Muzhi, excusing himself that it was late and he needed to find lodging, so he ate a bit and took his leave.

The carriage convoy departed slowly, Zhai Muzhi seeing them off with a smile as warm as spring breeze, showing great respect for the Prince of Langya. Even after they were out of sight, his smile remained.

But the cowering commoners nearby made the scene eerily strange.

Xie Ruhai stood by in attendance, silent all the while. Only when the convoy was far away did he speak low to Zhai Muzhi: "Master, it seems he really was exiled to Miaojiang. This trip likely has nothing to do with us. But why is Li Si'an mixed up with him? Should we look into it?"

Zhai Muzhi shook his head: "A merchant like Li Si'an wouldn't dare offend the Prince of Langya. If Wang Daozhong asks him for anything, he'd hardly refuse. Investigating him is pointless; it would only reveal our hand."

Xie Ruhai said: "Then what should we do about Wang Daozhong heading to the southwest?"

Zhai Muzhi pondered a moment: "First, you only met this man in your early years, so you can't be entirely sure. Though from his bearing, it should be right—that attitude of one accustomed to superiors can't be faked. Even a wealthy man like Li Si'an is cautious and silent before officials, but he spoke freely, even condescendingly. It should be him... Still, let's be cautious. Send a letter to Langya to confirm before anything else."

Xie Ruhai bowed: "Yes."

Zhai Muzhi said: "The Wang family's affairs are strange in every way. First, they shouldn't have revealed their rebellious intent so early. Second, now that their rebellion is out in the open, even the Cui and Yang families have sent troops to suppress them, yet His Majesty says nothing and even allows Wang Daozhong to be released... It looks as if he has completely lost power and is letting the great families control everything. I even wonder if His Majesty and the Wang family are putting on a play—a scheme to lure out the snake? Whoever tries to ally with the Wangs will instead be struck down by them in cooperation with His Majesty."

This was a popular judgment in Shu, such speculation not being new.

Xie Ruhai then said: "So Wang Daozhong's coming to the southwest is likely to test us... We just need to play along, and all will be well?"

Zhai Muzhi showed a hint of a smile: "Let's wait and see... If the situation is right, perhaps what we should do is capture Wang Daozhong and hand him over to Tang Wanzhuang... For loyal ministers like us, even if Tang Wanzhuang knows something, she'll likely have to hold her nose and turn a blind eye."

Xie Ruhai also smiled: "Don't be fooled by the Demon Suppression Bureau's so-called slaying demons and punishing evil—in the end, her seat is on this nation's side."

"Notify Sect Master Shi; his strength is just right for dealing with Wang Daozhong."

"And Yue Hongling..."

"Yue Hongling's jianghu experience is truly rich; she's hard to find. We can take our time... She's still hiding in Miaojiang, not daring to show her face, let alone leave... I'd like to see how long she can hide!"

...

Zhao Changhe had never imagined that the identity of Wang Daozhong could also bring trouble... Scions of great families don't roam the world for no reason; there's always a cause.

As luck would have it, this matter was indeed connected to both Yue Hongling and Sword Hut... If he had to choose again, he would still play the role of Wang Daozhong.

Old Wang was truly a lucky star.

But at this moment, Zhao Changhe didn't know. As they left Shu Commandery, riding side by side with Li Si'an and exchanging views, they both felt Zhai Muzhi's attitude was perfectly normal.

"Standard courtesy among scions of great families—since Wang Daozhong came, he had to show some etiquette."

"Yeah, but that nouveau riche attitude really is something..." Zhao Changhe sucked his teeth in annoyance: "That meal just now—did it cost a year's income? Oh wait, I don't even have a salary."

"Uh..." Li Si'an considered for a moment, then said: "Actually, you do have a salary... You seem to be a secret agent of the Demon Suppression Bureau, and at a high rank, second only to the chief."

Zhao Changhe: "Where do I collect it? They've owed me at least a year's pay."

Li Si'an stared straight ahead at the road: "To collect your salary, you'd have to acknowledge the chief as your superior. Are you sure about that?"

Zhao Changhe was overjoyed: "There's such a good thing?"

"You're the pervert," Li Si'an rolled his eyes, too lazy to argue, and changed the subject: "His attitude isn't necessarily that of a nouveau riche; it's just habit. Everyone does it, and he thinks the Wangs and Cuis do the same."

Zhao Changhe said: "What's his official reputation like? I saw the people's fear of him is bone-deep."

"He bleeds them dry, severely so," Li Si'an said. "Not to mention other things, just a few months ago, in the dead of winter, he forcibly conscripted laborers to dig a canal. No one knows how many died. The land of Shu was filled with wailing. Yet when reported to the court, it was praised as a great benefit to the people."

Zhao Changhe was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked: "What about the Divine Radiance Sect?"

The strongest sect in the world, the Divine Radiance Sect, was located at Mount Emei in Shu.

He wondered how these righteous sects balanced their stance on official actions—would they, in their chivalry, cut off corrupt officials' heads? From what he'd seen, they seemed to blend in with the world, hence 'righteous path.' In essence, Guichen treated the Wang family similarly.

Sima Xiao's temperament probably couldn't stomach such things. Since parting at Yanmen, there had been no news of him. Perhaps it was related to this? He might have confined himself or gone to a more remote place.

Li Si'an shook his head: "I don't know. The Divine Radiance Sect is called the number one sect, but they're very low-key. Apart from their direct disciple Sima Xiao roaming the jianghu, we rarely hear of them."

"Are they like Sword Hut, not interacting with the outside?"

"The customs of Ba-Shu are mostly like this..." Li Si'an said. "Besides, for Li Shentong, his role in suppressing the southwestern tribes is more significant; he rarely gets involved in Central Plains affairs."

Zhao Changhe said: "Will we pass by Mount Emei on our way? I was entrusted to bring something to Li Shentong, but I've been too busy to travel this far. Now that we're in Ba-Shu, it's a good chance to visit."

Li Si'an said: "It's several days' journey. We can take the route via Mount Emei. What are you bringing?"

"A jug of wine."

Li Si'an: '?'

With all these troubles on your plate, you still have the mind to deliver a jug of wine to someone?

Zhao Changhe said: "I'm already quite ashamed; I've delayed it for months. Honestly, if it weren't on the way, I might not have thought to go this time. I'd probably wait until after finishing my business on the return trip... Sometimes I think back to when I first entered the jianghu, traveling a thousand miles for a single promise. That spirit seems to have faded without my noticing. I'm not as good as Han Wubing."

Li Si'an smiled: "Who knows how Han Wubing is today? The jianghu years age a person. With so many burdens, who can stay young forever?"

Zhao Changhe's eyes shone: "There will always be an end to things. And I believe that today's Han Wubing is still Han Wubing."

Just as he said this, golden light suddenly appeared in the sky.

The two looked up in surprise as a new chapter of the Book of Chaos descended:

"April, Start of Summer."

"Han Wubing, while at Yanmen, discovered an assassin from the Listening Snow Pavilion probing for information about a friend. He pursued him for a thousand li, from winter to summer, searching for five months, and stabbed the assassin Eaglefrost on the Plank Road of Sword Pavilion. Not fully successful, Eaglefrost fled."

"Victory and defeat on the Human Ranking, positions swapped."

"Human Ranking Thirty-Three: Han Wubing."

"I come to the feast, bowing to the clear wind; with righteous spirit, I swallow the rainbow."