Chapter 53: What Is Your Exact Relationship With Chief Tang

CHAPTER 53

What Exactly Is Your Relationship with Director Tang?

This man who would never be content to serve under another—was he genuinely praising him, or subtly implying that he was born with a rebellious bone that no one would dare to claim? After the drinkers had rambled on endlessly, Zhao Changhe now felt as if every word anyone spoke carried a hint of mockery, and it was excruciatingly annoying.

What was even more annoying was that he didn’t know how to answer the question.

What relationship with Director Tang?

How the hell should I know!

“I’m the man she can never have. Does that count?”

Cui Yuanyong sighed helplessly. “Brother Zhao... I’m not good at jokes. Can we talk seriously?”

“If we’re being serious, then I killed the man she wanted to save, right in front of her. She personally issued a wanted order for my capture, and everyone knows it. Since she’s hunting me, can’t I claim she’ll never catch me? It’s a joke, but it’s also the truth.”

Cui Yuanyong said slowly, “But... does she really want to catch you?”

Zhao Changhe replied casually, “What the drinkers were saying just now—about the wanted poster being ruined by rain and no one bothering to replace it? That kind of thing is normal when local officials are lazy. The local magistrate couldn’t care less about Director Tang.”

“No... Many fugitives aren’t caught because their whereabouts are unknown. But she knew you were in Beimang, and yet she sent my sister—that naive... well, that inexperienced girl. I’ve never seen the Demon Suppression Division treat a fugitive so carelessly.”

That little fool from the Cui family had been sent by Director Tang. That meant Director Tang already knew Zhao Changhe was in Beimang.

Since she knew he was in Beimang, not only did she not come herself, but she didn’t even send elite troops. Instead, she sent a little fool who had never set foot in the martial world?

Zhao Changhe knew this was hard to explain, so he stopped joking and said, “Maybe she thought Brother Cui would step in?”

“Perhaps... but there’s something you might not know. I was also careless about this mission, even reluctant to let my sister do it, so I kept stalling, waiting for her to break through to the third level of the Xuan Pass. That delay stretched into a month or two, and Director Tang didn’t react at all. Is that how the authorities handle a known fugitive’s location?”

Zhao Changhe: “...Why were you stalling?”

“I was stalling because I didn’t think you were an ordinary bandit. I wanted to observe you more. But Director Tang’s lack of reaction was what truly struck me as strange.” Cui Yuanyong said calmly, “She shouldn’t have had no reaction! Because you’re not an ordinary fugitive. On the surface, the man you killed was just a local magnate, worth a mere hundred taels of bounty... But we know Luo Zhenwu was more than just a local magnate. The consequences of that strike of yours were severe.”

Zhao Changhe said nothing.

Cui Yuanyong finally got to the point: “If he really was a prince, Tang Wanzhuang should have come to capture you herself immediately. Instead, she left it to my sister, let me stall as long as I wanted without asking, and was so indifferent? That at least proves one thing: Luo Zhenwu was never a prince. His death wasn’t important.”

So Director Tang’s name was Tang Wanzhuang... Hmm.

Zhao Changhe sighed. “You already guessed Luo Zhenwu wasn’t a prince, didn’t you? Otherwise, why would you bother observing me? Shouldn’t you have captured me right away? The Cui family is a prestigious clan of the Great Xia, with many members serving in the government. Why does this feel like it’s only Director Tang’s business?”

Cui Yuanyong revealed a faint smile and said nothing more.

But the look in his eyes as he regarded Zhao Changhe grew more intrigued.

Zhao Changhe felt uncomfortable under his gaze and said helplessly, “Why are you looking at me like that? If Luo Zhenwu isn’t a prince, then it’s perfectly normal that the wanted order isn’t taken so seriously. What’s so strange about that?”

“But...” Cui Yuanyong said leisurely, “She sent my sister to capture you... Didn’t she know that, according to normal reasoning, the inevitable outcome would be a fight between you and me? Does she want to capture you or not? On one hand, she seems reluctant to catch you; on the other, it almost feels like she wants you dead.”

Zhao Changhe narrowed his eyes.

Indeed...

If Director Tang had received news of him in Beimang, it must have been right after he defeated Deputy Leader Huang and made it onto the Chaos Chronicle. At that time, Wang Dashan and others had deliberately leaked the information, drawing a bunch of idiots to challenge the Hidden Dragon List. It was impossible that the authorities hadn’t heard. The local officials must have dared not act on their own and reported it to the Demon Suppression Division in haste.

At that time, his strength was at the first level of the Xuan Pass, while Cui’s sister was at the second level... No, it had nothing to do with strength. Whether Director Tang could guess how rapidly his power had grown in that period didn’t matter. What mattered was that Director Tang should have realized that someone as naive as Cui’s sister would likely fail even in the most ordinary mountain stronghold with no experts.

And if Cui Yuanyong saw his sister in danger, how could he not intervene?

Thus, Cui Yuanyong would inevitably cross paths with Zhao Changhe. And given Cui Yuanyong’s strength, how could Zhao Changhe possibly survive? He would surely die!

But if she really wanted him dead, Director Tang could have just sent a trusted subordinate. Why go through all this roundabout trouble?

Because of the Cui family’s identity? If the Cui family killed a prince, would that benefit the situation? That would only benefit the rebels, wouldn’t it? They’d be laughing all the way to the bank. Was Director Tang one of them?

Or was Director Tang certain that Cui Yuanyong would never rashly kill someone as suspicious as Zhao Changhe? Did she intentionally let Cui Yuanyong get in touch with Zhao Changhe to confirm something?

But why didn’t she come herself to confirm it? Why use such an uncontrollable method?

He couldn’t figure it out.

Zhao Changhe scratched his head and said earnestly, “Brother Cui, I’m not playing dumb with you. I haven’t figured this out either. Can you tell me the whole story of how you ended up in Beimang? Is your sister a subordinate of the Demon Suppression Division? She doesn’t seem like one.”

“No, I was the one who wanted to go to Beimang first.” Cui Yuanyong said, “I wanted to challenge Yue Hongling, so I had people keep an eye on her whereabouts. I learned she had appeared in Beimang. My sister knew I was going out, and she couldn’t stand staying at home, so she pestered me to take her along... I thought she was old enough to travel and see the world, so I brought her on this journey. My family agreed.”

That was normal enough. Zhao Changhe didn’t interrupt, refilling his cup, knowing there was more to come.

“From my home to Beimang, it wasn’t exactly passing through the capital, but it wasn’t too far out of the way either. So naturally, I took her to the capital for a tour first, and we paid a visit to Director Tang—honestly, if a woman could learn even a fraction of Director Tang’s grace, that would be our hope for her.”

Zhao Changhe recalled that night, the woman’s sword light like water, her frail body blocking the demonic sect, beautiful and serene yet imposing and dignified. He could almost imagine her working at her desk, coughing softly, propping up this decaying empire with her ailing body... Though that impression might not be entirely accurate, it was the first image she gave.

Even if it was just surface poise, if Cui’s sister could learn even a hint of it, the Cui family would probably set off firecrackers in celebration.

He couldn’t help but laugh. “And then?”

“But my sister didn’t admire Director Tang’s style. Instead, she was very interested in the Demon Suppression Division’s work. She said hunting bandits and eliminating evil, upholding justice in the world—just thinking about it was thrilling. She even said she wanted to join the Demon Suppression Division.”

Zhao Changhe almost burst out laughing.

The Demon Suppression Division’s duties were somewhat similar to a modern major crimes unit, but with much higher status. In this world of martial arts and fantasy, the “demons” they suppressed were often figures on the Chaos Chronicle, mostly rebel leaders and foreign chieftains. Director Tang’s role wasn’t just that of a major crimes unit head or special forces commander; she was a top minister of the imperial court, a first-rank official.

A pampered young lady from home wanted to join the most brutal and bloody department in the empire? Even if they let her in, she’d only be a mascot. Did she really think she could suppress the world’s demonic disciples?

Seeing Zhao Changhe’s expression, Cui Yuanyong knew what he was thinking and sighed helplessly. “Everyone knows it’s ridiculous. And frankly, our family doesn’t want to join such a bureau—it goes against our principles. Director Tang probably doesn’t want a Cui family member in the Demon Suppression Division either. If one actually joined, her head would probably swell three sizes. So she said that to enter the Demon Suppression Division, one must at least complete an initiation mission, and the mission’s outcome would determine whether they could be hired.”

Zhao Changhe clicked his tongue. “That was a sly move on her part. She didn’t say completing it would guarantee entry.”

“Exactly. I thought at the time she was just brushing us off, picking some random mission to show my sister that hunting bandits wasn’t easy. And we had an unspoken understanding—she knew I wouldn’t help my sister complete the mission.” Cui Yuanyong said, “While she was choosing the mission, she chatted with me about this and that. When she learned I was going to Beimang... she suddenly paused, frowned, and thought for a long time.”

“So the mission became capturing me?”

“Director Tang said, ‘Coincidentally, I just received news that a fugitive is in Beimang. Let it be him.’ That’s how it happened. Otherwise, how would we have known where you were?”

So it seemed Director Tang hadn’t thought of it before. But upon learning that Cui Yuanyong was heading to Beimang, she must have made some calculation, turning the mission she had intended to brush off Cui’s sister with into this.

Zhao Changhe’s expression slowly turned strange. A ridiculous thought suddenly crossed his mind—if Director Tang was truly certain that Cui Yuanyong wouldn’t rashly kill him, then this arrangement almost felt like a matchmaking setup.

No wonder Cui Yuanyong hadn’t asked, “What is your identity?” but instead, “What exactly is your relationship with Director Tang?”