Chapter 57: We Have Been Deceived

Chapter 57: We Were Deceived

A fine drizzle fell.

Zhao Changhe no longer wore a straw rain cape or hat; instead, he held a large umbrella as he walked through the city streets with Cui Yuanyang.

Though the umbrella was big, he angled it entirely toward Cui Yuanyang, leaving one shoulder exposed to the rain, gradually soaking it, yet he paid it no mind.

Cui Yuanyang walked silently beside him, half a step behind. In her heart, she felt that this "running away from home" and "sticking by her idol" had a bit of a disillusioning quality, but not entirely so.

She could sense Zhao Changhe's detachment, even contempt, for the aristocratic families—a feeling that they were not of the same ilk... Though he never said it outright, it was subtly perceptible.

Cui Yuanyang's elbows had not yet turned outward; she naturally sided with her own family, and suddenly felt a distance growing between her and Zhao Changhe.

Thus, the disillusionment.

And how to put it... Was she being foolish? Originally, Zhao Changhe's roughness, wildness, and soaring spirit held a fatal allure for a young girl raised in a gentle, refined environment and just at the rebellious age. But now that she truly interacted with him, she found him unexpectedly gentle and polite, attentive as family.

Perhaps it was normal—wild among bandits, polite before a noble lady—but the attraction had waned, making him seem "just like everyone else"... Hmm... Wasn't that truly foolish?

She scratched her head.

And touched the rabbit ears.

Cui Yuanyang's mood inexplicably lifted a bit.

Regardless, his gentleness and politeness were genuinely different from others' sycophantic flattery with ulterior motives. On the surface, he was courteous, but at his core, he was defiant.

So it wasn't entirely disillusioning.

Cui Yuanyang suddenly wondered: the things that made him feel distant seemed to be precisely what attracted her to him—wasn't that a contradiction?

The young girl couldn't tell.

Anyway, he was indeed a gentleman; she hadn't misjudged him, right? When she returned home, her father and elder brother would nag, but she could stand her ground.

Wasn't it just following him to experience the martial world? What could she learn by following her brother? Along the way, government offices and noble families greeted and entertained them with care, and by the time they reached Beimang, she hadn't even fought. How could that compare to the life-and-death storms he faced the moment he stepped into the world?

Now, even the beggars on the roadside filled Cui Yuanyang with suspicion, always wondering if they might be assassins.

"Hey..." Cui Yuanyang couldn't help but secretly tug at Zhao Changhe's sleeve: "Look at that beggar, his eyes are on us—is he an assassin?"

"..." Zhao Changhe ignored her and kept walking.

"Say something..."

"Is it possible that he's looking at you because you've been staring at him? Maybe he's thinking, 'Is this girl going to give me money? Why hasn't she come over?'"

Cui Yuanyang: "...What if he really is an assassin?"

"We haven't gone near him. Even if he is, what can he do?"

"Hidden weapons? Crossbows?"

"Then why wouldn't he hide in the shadows instead of pretending to be a beggar squatting in the rain? Is he as stupid as you?"

Cui Yuanyang opened her mouth, then huffed and fell silent.

"I don't have much experience in the martial world either. Yue Hongling once told me some things, but it's like listening to stories or reading novels—not much different. In the end, you have to go through it yourself." Zhao Changhe said slowly. "But some things require experience, while others can be figured out with logic... I'm also afraid of encountering things that defy all logic, which really gives me a headache—like your appearance."

Cui Yuanyang: "..."

What was "logic" supposed to mean? And where was this place called Zhao Cuo, with all these strange dialects?

Zhao Changhe suddenly stopped.

Caught off guard, Cui Yuanyang bumped into his back, but felt his back tense abruptly, as if he had instantly entered a combat state.

She peeked out from under his armpit and saw footsteps echoing ahead as a group of soldiers surged forward: "Zhao Changhe! A wanted criminal dares to swagger into the city? Do you have no regard for the authorities at all?"

No matter what Tang Wanzhuang thought, she couldn't communicate it to every local government. In the eyes of the regular authorities, he was indeed a wanted criminal. Usually, they might turn a blind eye due to laziness, but swaggering into the city was too much.

Zhao Changhe's head ached. He really hadn't intended to provoke the authorities—they were a violent organization with strong bows and crossbows, and he couldn't handle them alone. He had planned to enter the city at night, challenge a martial arts school, and leave, but then he ran into that little fool, who arranged lodging and a bath, and he completely forgot about this.

His vigilance had been too low; how could he forget something like this?

"Hey!" Cui Yuanyang popped her head out: "Do you know who I am?"

"Excellent! Zhao Changhe! We've received reports that you've abducted a young girl, and here it is! Don't worry, miss, we'll rescue you!"

Cui Yuanyang: "?"

Zhao Changhe: "..."

Silly girl, you've never left your home since childhood—why do you think everyone knows you? Actually, it's better if they don't; otherwise, people finding out he stayed at an inn with the Cui family's young lady wouldn't be appropriate.

"Swish, swish, swish!" Wind rose all around, and elite members of the local Demon Suppression Bureau appeared on the rooftops.

Seeing that the situation couldn't be resolved, Cui Yuanyang was about to pull out her Cui family token to reveal her identity when Zhao Changhe, expressionless, drew his blade... and placed it against her neck.

Cui Yuanyang: "???"

"You all know I abducted a young girl, but don't you realize I have a hostage in hand?" Zhao Changhe said. "Do you know what she meant when she asked if you recognized her? She meant she's the daughter of an official, of high status—not someone you can casually cut down along with the bandit. Look at that face, that demeanor, huh? And you'd better not ask which family's young lady this is, or I'll ruin her reputation before you even get the chance to tarnish it."

Elite of the Demon Suppression Bureau: "..."

You've said everything the leader should say? Why don't you just become an official instead of a bandit?

Cui Yuanyang understood. She tilted her head, playing the pitiful hostage, and said nothing, but her eyes hid amazement and gratitude.

On the rooftop to the right, a middle-aged man who looked like a Demon Suppression Bureau leader shouted sternly: "Zhao Changhe! I thought you were at least a good man, but you stoop to such shameless acts!"

"Tsk, when did you ever think I was a good man? Isn't this what bandits do?" Zhao Changhe said loudly. "If you don't want this little white rabbit's tender neck snapped in two, then get out of my way!"

The soldiers looked at the leader, who hesitated for a long time, unable to order the hostage cut down in broad daylight with so many eyes watching. Finally, he waved his hand helplessly: "Make way."

Zhao Changhe dragged Cui Yuanyang slowly out of the city gate. Once outside, he suddenly dashed into the woods by the roadside, weaving and dodging until he vanished in the blink of an eye.

His laughter echoed in the air: "I'm not just a bandit—next time, I might set my sights on Tang Wanzhuang! Tell her to wash up and wait!"

A group of Demon Suppression Bureau elites chased after him but couldn't find a trace of Zhao Changhe.

"This guy moves through the woods like he's going home."

"He was a mountain bandit, after all."

"Should we chase?"

No one answered. In truth, no one wanted to. A hostage situation was the most annoying thing—what was the point of chasing? Zhao Changhe wasn't easy to deal with either. In this terrain, unlike the city, he might pick them off one by one, leading to casualties. Who would risk their life for a few silver taels a month?

They exchanged glances, frustrated, and asked: "Should we report his last words to Chief Tang?"

"Damn it, if you want to die, go ahead—I don't!"

"So many onlookers heard it; someone will tell Chief Tang anyway."

"Then it's none of our business."

"...Who was that young lady? She looked really cute. What a waste if she ends up with that pig."

"No idea. Zhao Changhe had a point—better not to ask, or her family might end up hating us."

"What noble young lady!" Someone came panting from behind. "The Splendid Garment Shop reported a theft last night—a set of rabbit-fur clothing was stolen. Isn't that what she's wearing? And there was a mandarin duck bellyband, the kind used by girls at the Joyful Court! Is that something a proper lady would wear? That woman is just a female bandit in Zhao Changhe's gang, playing the innocent on the outside but wild on the inside—got it? We've all been fooled by Zhao Changhe..."