Chapter 442: A Red Feather Appears

Chapter 442: A Flash of Red Plume

Unexpectedly, Thunder Tiger, facing Wang Daozhong, though somewhat cautious, showed no trace of awe, and soon burst into laughter: "Long admired, long admired—a great figure from the Earth List, a rare sight, you grace my humble abode, you grace it indeed... Mr. Wang, please!"

With that, he warmly took Li Si'an by the arm and led him into the tent: "Fourth Brother, it's been years, hasn't it? Where have you been making your fortune all this time?"

Li Si'an chuckled as he followed inside: "These past years, mostly in Jingxiang, rarely traveling far."

Zhao Changhe followed with keen interest. The man's seeming warmth actually carried a hint of cold-shouldering... For the first time, he realized that Wang Daozhong, who shone so brightly everywhere in the Central Plains, could be treated so dismissively.

The man was conveying a message: he cared about the Earth List's strength, but the title of Prince of Langya? Don't bother bringing it up. Whether you're the Prince of Langya or from the Cui clan of Qinghe, this is Erhai—your family's reach doesn't extend this far. Only your personal prowess commands respect; everything else is hollow.

But even on the Earth List, Wang Daozhong, ranked low, wouldn't carry much weight in this motley place. A strong dragon doesn't crush a local snake. You're here on business, so you can't just throw your weight around from the start—or you'll never get anything done.

Here, you follow the local rules.

The guests and host took their seats. Lei Ao waved a hand grandly: "Men, bring the osmanthus wine for our honored guests."

Zhao Changhe sat to one side, sipping his wine in silence, observing Lei Ao and Li Si'an exchange pleasantries.

Lei Ao continued their earlier topic with Li Si'an: "So you've been in Jingxiang all along? Jingxiang is good! Fourth Brother seems to have grown paler... What brings you here in person to pick up goods this time?"

Li Si'an smiled faintly: "I came to see if Brother Lei was being bullied by anyone, and whether a brother's help was needed."

Lei Ao was taken aback: "Fourth Brother, what makes you say that?"

Li Si'an feigned surprise: "Hasn't Brother Lei's upstream supply run into trouble?"

Lei Ao's expression cleared, and he sighed: "I never imagined such a small matter would bring Fourth Brother all this way. I feel quite guilty."

Li Si'an raised an eyebrow: "What do you mean? This is just 'a small matter'?"

Lei Ao said: "Well, it's not something we can discuss openly."

He glanced at "Wang Daozhong" and lowered his voice: "After that batch of tax silver was intercepted in early spring, the Southwest Pacification Office didn't just let it go. They levied another round from all the families..."

Li Si'an's expression shifted.

Another levy—he hadn't heard of that. And where did it go? The court hadn't seen it either... Could it have been intercepted again?

If so, adding the batch just stolen, that would be three lost shipments of tax silver in total.

"Fourth Brother must have figured it out—who can withstand layer after layer of stripping like this? By this time, all we had left was to hand over our goods directly. What fine quality could we possibly keep?" Lei Ao sighed. "Don't blame me for fobbing off inferior goods on Fourth Brother—that's the best we have now. We just hope this round ends it and things return to normal. If this keeps up, none of us will have even dirt to hand over, let alone jade or gemstones."

Li Si'an pondered for a moment, and his face suddenly changed.

This was a market town. The bustle here didn't mean peace among the tribes.

If Lei Ao was telling the truth, the southwestern chieftains were likely at their breaking point... And if this batch was stolen again, and the Pacification Office didn't let it go but squeezed them once more...

Would the southwest be pushed into rebellion?

Zhao Changhe was thinking the same. Could Li Shengtong's purpose in stealing the silver be to incite rebellion in the southwest? But whether the Pacification Office would continue its extortion wasn't something Li Shengtong could control...

Lei Ao added: "If Fourth Brother doesn't believe me, feel free to come see our warehouse."

Li Si'an waved a hand: "Forget it. Given the situation, what are your plans?"

Lei Ao ventured: "Fourth Brother is a wealthy man from the Central Plains with connections. If you could put in a word with the Pacification Office..."

Li Si'an laughed out loud: "With the living Buddha right here, why cling to my leg instead of his?"

Lei Ao's gaze finally fell on "Wang Daozhong." He smiled: "I've been so caught up in reminiscing with Fourth Brother that I neglected Mr. Wang. What brings you to Erhai?"

Zhao Changhe knew in his heart that Lei Ao had no intention of letting him approach the Pacification Office—otherwise, his initial attitude wouldn't have been like that.

It was highly likely that all this talk was just nonsense to fob off Li Si'an. A seasoned old fox like Li Si'an probably sensed it too, but they were both playing the game.

With this judgment in mind, Zhao Changhe sipped his wine and said leisurely: "First, to expand my family's trade routes. Second, I hear the southwest is rich in extraordinary talents, and I'd like to recruit some for the family. Mr. Lei has deep roots here—do you have any advice?"

Lei Ao asked: "What kind of extraordinary talents does Mr. Wang seek?"

"Those skilled in sorcery, of course—isn't that the greatest difference between the southwestern tribes and the Central Plains?"

Lei Ao shook his head: "Those who practice sorcery are mostly tribal shamans, bound by strict rules. They won't work for outsiders, nor will they easily divulge their arts. Otherwise, why haven't any come to the Central Plains all these years? Mr. Wang should know this."

"Times change." Zhao Changhe said airily: "Now that you're being squeezed to the brink by corrupt officials, if you don't seek new paths and still cling to your old ways, how laughable."

Li Si'an shot him a sidelong glance.

Zhao Changhe continued his outrageous speech: "I don't know how much you've heard of the Central Plains' affairs, sealed off as you are in the southwest... I won't hide it from you—my Wang family aims to purge the court of evil. If anyone seeks a new way out, wouldn't my family be the perfect choice?"

Li Si'an wanted to cover his face.

Zhao Changhe paused deliberately, then added slowly: "And if anyone wishes to stand on their own, they're welcome to contact my Wang family. We can support each other."

Li Si'an wasn't the only one wincing. Lei Ao's face twitched, and he hurriedly said: "This... this is too big a matter for me to decide..."

"No need to decide now. Mr. Lei can go back and ask your tribal chief, or other friendly shamans."

Lei Ao's earlier arrogance had vanished. He wiped his sweat and said: "Then I hope Mr. Wang will stay a few days and enjoy the sights of Cangshan and Erhai."

Zhao Changhe said: "I came here with Mr. Si'an only to find a guide. Now that I'm here, Mr. Si'an has his own affairs, and we're not on the same path, so I won't impose further. Could Mr. Lei spare a few attendants to serve as local guides? I'll pay them well."

His real aim was to get Lei Ao to help find Yue Hongling or the Sword Hut disciples, but he couldn't say that directly. He planned to use the guides to subtly probe—ask if they'd seen a woman in red or a white-robed swordsman. If not, he'd find an excuse to "recall something" and ask Lei Ao to mobilize people, making it less obvious.

But Lei Ao laughed heartily: "How could I take money from Mr. Wang? Hey, you there..."

He pointed around, about to assign some attendants, when a cold voice came from outside: "I hear the Prince of Langya has arrived... I am Shi Wuding of the Sword Hut. I've long admired the Langya Sea-Calming Sword. I beg your instruction."

Li Si'an was horrified. Zhao Changhe was dumbfounded.

Damn it, even Old Wang could cause trouble for me in reverse?

No, wait...

Was this good news or bad?

After searching high and low, the vanished Sword Hut master had inexplicably appeared here, seeking out Wang Daozhong... If he could tail him afterward, all mysteries would be solved.

But the problem was, he couldn't beat Shi Wuding!

The man was ranked sixth on the Earth List. He'd lose his life, let alone track him afterward—he'd have to become a ghost to follow.

But since it had come to this, he couldn't outrun Shi Wuding. He might as well go out and face him, see if some smooth talk could help.

Zhao Changhe rose with a "calm" expression and walked out, replying: "You flatter me, Sect Leader Shi... You're sixth on the Earth List, while I barely cling to the bottom. It should be me seeking your instruction."

Li Si'an cried out urgently: "Sir!"

Damn it, you can't die here for no reason—how would I explain to the First Seat?

Zhao Changhe waved a hand and pushed aside the tent flap.

Outside, the guards had already dispersed, forming an open space. In the center stood a white-robed swordsman, still and upright, eyes half-closed, head bowed.

He was like a sword incarnate... reminding Zhao Changhe of Han Wubing when they first met.

Now Han Wubing smiled more often, no longer so dead-faced...

When "Wang Daozhong" emerged, the swordsman opened his eyes, and a sharp sword-light seemed to flash through the air, crackling like thunder.

Zhao Changhe gripped the ancient dragon sword, raising his hand in a timely salute: "Sect Leader Shi, you look as impressive as ever."

Whether he knew him or not, this line would serve as a dodge. More crucially, the salute allowed him to silently neutralize the man's "heart-sword" with the ancient dragon sword, leaving no trace.

Zhao Changhe had learned few sword techniques, but he had seen far too many.

He had encountered a similar skill in the Sword Emperor's legacy. The reason he felt the blade path wasn't the end was partly because it lacked variety—the same moves over and over, without the elegance that so many generations of sword cultivators had refined.

Seeing "Wang Daozhong" easily see through his intimidation and effortlessly defuse it, Shi Wuding's eyes finally showed a grave expression: "To say that you are at the bottom of the Earth Ranking is too self-deprecating. With this skill alone, moving up a few places is no problem."

Zhao Changhe smiled: "No matter how many places I move up, I am no match for Sect Leader Shi. Sect Leader Shi only opened his eyes, but I, Wang, ultimately raised my hand. I have never heard of the higher-ranked challenging the lower-ranked. Meeting in a foreign land, we should have a drink. Why start a fight? Wang Daozhong admits defeat, so please, Sect Leader Shi, let me treat you to a meal at a tavern?"

Shi Wuding said calmly: "A scion of a noble family, indeed you have bearing. Precisely because you are Wang Daozhong, I wanted to challenge..."

Before he finished speaking, suddenly a sword aura soared into the sky from afar.

Shi Wuding's face, which had been as flat as a dead man's, finally changed. He turned in surprise to look back.

A swordsman from his sect flew over: "Sect Leader, the Pacification Commissioner has been assassinated. Only a flash of red robes was seen, then gone in an instant."

Shi Wuding took a deep breath and muttered to himself: "What a Yue Hongling... I thought she was hiding like a bereaved dog, but it turns out she was waiting for a moment to counterattack... I was careless and underestimated her..."

He turned to Wang Daozhong before him, cupped his hands, and said: "Something has gone wrong. I need to return for a while... Another day I will seek your advice, Mr. Wang."

With that, he vanished in a flash.

He did not notice that this Mr. Wang had a smile at the corner of his mouth, his expression tender.

Sunset, red feathers, cannot be restrained... Indeed, she never needed anyone to worry.