Chapter 443: Cooperation Across Distance

Chapter 443: Cooperation Across the Void

The southwest was vast, vast beyond measure; Erhai was but a tiny speck within it, with most tribes dwelling scattered among the mountains. Even the market towns where various peoples gathered and traded around Erhai numbered more than just Xizhou—further south, along the slopes of Cangshan, there were other settlements, even livelier ones.

Zhao Changhe had never imagined he would find a trace of Yue Hongling the moment he set foot in the first town. He had assumed he would need to search far and wide, that this was merely a starting point, a thread to follow.

Yet unexpectedly, he had plunged straight into the thick of it, and Yue Hongling was truly here!

How strange…

If she had been hiding deep in the wild forests, no one could find her, and that would be that. But here she was, in a town, with even the local Pacification Commissioner joining the hunt for her. In other words, most tribes would likely join the search out of deference to the Commissioner—how could she possibly remain concealed?

And she, probably infuriated by being targeted, had heard of the Commissioner’s rampant extortion and had taken the initiative to strike, assassinating him.

Zhao Changhe pieced it together in his mind, and from that dashing, heroic image, he could even conjure a hint of adorable, puffed-up indignation.

It was easy to imagine: Yue Hongling clearly dared not act rashly while Shi Wuding was hunting her everywhere. But just then, Wang Daozhong had graced the scene, and Shi Wuding, for reasons unknown, had come to challenge him. No matter the gap in their rankings, a battle between Wang Daozhong and Shi Wuding was still an Earth Ranking clash, not easily distracted from. Yue Hongling had seized the opportunity and struck decisively.

It seemed he had unwittingly lent Yue Hongling a hand… but at the same time, hadn’t she also saved him? How else could he have dealt with Shi Wuding?

Then again… Yue Hongling had assumed that Shi Wuding would be locked in a fierce exchange with “Wang Daozhong,” prompting her to assassinate the Commissioner. But in truth, he couldn’t hold Shi Wuding’s attention at all, causing the man to return immediately. This might lead Yue Hongling to misjudge the situation and land in trouble… Once her presence was exposed, she couldn’t outrun Shi Wuding.

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant. Over there, Shi Wuding had just leaped away, not even reaching the street corner ahead, when Zhao Changhe’s figure flickered and he gave chase: “Sect Master Shi, you come to challenge, then you leave as you please—what do you take me for? Stay right here!”

At the same time, he connected his mind with the Ancient Sword Dragon Emperor and silently pleaded: “Sword Bro, do me a favor, lend a hand…”

Ancient Sword Dragon Emperor: “…”

This scumbag’s behavior was quite reminiscent of its previous master…

A surge of true qi poured into the blade, and a surging sword intent rose, as if about to burst forth from the edge.

Sword qi! And it was the evolution of a supreme technique—the Sword Emperor’s art, the Yuantu Sword!

The Dragon Emperor silently added a bit of its own power.

The sword qi howled out, a sharp, ghostly shriek crossing several zhang, straight for Shi Wuding’s back.

Shi Wuding’s scalp tingled; with pure instinct, he twisted in midair. The sword qi grazed past him, the wind of its passage tearing a gash in his robe.

“Excellent swordsmanship! Excellent sword qi!” Shi Wuding halted and turned, speaking coldly: “Brother Wang, weren’t you just admitting defeat and offering to buy drinks? What’s this now?”

Zhao Changhe replied just as coldly: “Times change… In a normal challenge, a spar of swordsmanship, there’s nothing to say. I admit I’m outmatched, and I don’t mind conceding. But when I’ve already conceded and you still won’t let go, only to turn and flee because something’s happening behind you—what do you take me for? Is my Wang family a brothel in your eyes?”

Shi Wuding thought to himself: You clearly think I’m flustered and at a disadvantage now, and you see an opportunity, don’t you… This Wang Daozhong is such a dog!

But shameless as he was, his skills were indeed formidable. That sword qi just now had even stirred a flicker of delight in Shi Wuding; he genuinely wanted to have a proper bout with him. Unfortunately, he had more pressing matters now and no time to spare. The tougher his opponent, the more troublesome it became. After a moment’s deliberation, Shi Wuding decided it wouldn’t be easy to win quickly and chose to compromise: “I was inconsiderate. I’ll come to Langya another time to apologize. Farewell!”

With that, he tried to slip away again.

Since things had come to this point, pressing further would make them sworn enemies. Shi Wuding believed Wang Daozhong wasn’t that foolish.

No sooner had he thought this than another sword qi came flying.

Shi Wuding turned and deflected the sword qi, his usually impassive face now showing anger: “Brother Wang, such relentless pestering seems beneath your dignity.”

“Ha…” Zhao Changhe looked up, calculating that enough time had passed. With Yue Hongling’s skill, as long as no one had pinned her down, she should be long gone by now. If he kept dragging this out and Shi Wuding flew into a rage, it would be disastrous…

So he chuckled and said: “Brother Shi may not know the Central Plains families well enough. Everyone in Langya knows that I, Wang Daozhong, hold grudges. But this should be enough for now. I’ll seek your advice another time. Farewell.”

With that, he vanished in a flash.

Shi Wuding returned to the scene with a grim face, only to find Yue Hongling nowhere to be seen.

“Where is she?”

A disciple of the Sword Hut stepped forward to report: “The Pacification Commissioner took a sword to the throat. He can’t be saved…”

The so-called Pacification Commissioner was, of course, not the Southwest Pacification Commissioner, but merely a local official stationed in Xizhou. He had been assisting Shi Wuding in searching for Yue Hongling in the area and had been quite effective. Now he was gone… Without the local guide, Shi Wuding was as good as blind.

Shi Wuding’s head throbbed: “I asked about the murderer!”

“That was Yue Hongling. We really couldn’t hold her,” the disciple said helplessly. “We managed to delay her for a few moves, but in the end, she got away… If you had returned just a few breaths earlier, you might have caught a glimpse of her. Now she’s truly gone…”

“…Which direction did she go?”

“South.”

Shi Wuding climbed to a high vantage point and looked south. The alleys twisted and turned in every direction; there was no trace of Yue Hongling at all.

Further south, in the distance, he could even see Cangshan…

Shi Wuding was speechless, grinding his teeth: “Wang Daozhong!”

If only that bastard hadn’t delayed me for those few breaths, I might have caught her!

Recalling Wang Daozhong’s last words, Shi Wuding suddenly realized. This Wang Daozhong had deliberately held him back, all to interfere with his pursuit of the killer!

He had spoken so righteously that Shi Wuding never imagined the man was in league with Yue Hongling. He had thought it was pure spite. Shi Wuding shook his head in exasperation: “These scions of noble houses—they’d risk their lives just to save face? He’s not like Yue Hongling, who comes and goes like a ghost. He’s still staying at Lei Ao’s place. Does he really think I can’t go back tonight?!”

Over there, Li Si’an and Lei Ao were staring at Zhao Changhe as if he were a god: “Mr. Wang, you toyed with Sect Master Shi like that. What will you do when he comes back to settle the score?”

Zhao Changhe laughed heartily: “You think I’m still surrounded by attendants in Langya? Now I’m just a lone man. Master Si’an has brought me here. From now on, I’ll go wherever I please. How easy do you think it is for Shi Wuding to find me?”

Lei Ao thought to himself: That’s not what you said earlier… You wanted me to provide a guide. Now it sounds like you’ve found what you were looking for and don’t need one anymore?

Zhao Changhe truly didn’t need a guide anymore. Everything he wanted to know about Yue Hongling and the Sword Hut’s whereabouts had been uncovered on his very first day here. What use was a guide? Could a guide find Yue Hongling?

But how to make contact with Yue Hongling now—that was the real problem…

As he was pondering, Li Si’an said to Lei Ao: “Xizhou is just a small town. For Mr. Wang’s purpose here, it’s too lowly. Brother Lei, why not give him a letter of introduction to meet your tribal leaders? It would serve both to discuss important matters and to hide from Shi Wuding…”

Lei Ao hesitated for a moment, then said: “Very well. I’ll write a letter. Mr. Wang can take it to Cangshan.”

By the time Shi Wuding had dealt with the aftermath and stormed back to Lei Ao’s place, the answer he got was: “Mr. Wang Daozhong? He’s already left. Didn’t even stay for dinner.”

Shi Wuding: “?”

Was this Wang Daozhong really a scion of a noble house? From every angle, he had the feel of a seasoned rogue. Someone might even believe he was a second Yue Hongling!