Chapter 68: Reputation Destroyer Zhao Changhe

Chapter 68: Zhao Changhe, the Reputation Ruiner

Even a dog, if it topped the Chaos List three times in just five months, would shake the world—had such a frequency ever been seen before? Even Xia Longyuan hadn't achieved this when he first emerged! Was Zhao Changhe the chosen one or what?

And this time, it involved a noble lady from a great clan, the underworld of an entire prefecture, a thousand-li breakout, blood-soaked robes—the legend and drama were overflowing. How could Fang Buping even compare?

For most people's understanding, Zhao Changhe had hit the jackpot!

This was a massive favor from the Cui family! From now on, who would dare to move against him lightly? Did the court's half-hearted wanted notice carry more weight than the Cui family's face? Even if the Cui family flat-out said, "We're protecting this fugitive," Chief Tang would likely concede and withdraw it.

And it wasn't just about face—he might become the family's son-in-law...

He had braved thorns and thistles to escort a young girl. Even if it started as mere chivalry, a lone man and woman traveling together through wind and frost, rain and snow—one in her bloom, the other in his prime—if anyone claimed there were no sparks, even a dog wouldn't believe it.

If the young couple had secretly pledged themselves, they might have been torn apart. But now the whole world knew... At the very least, Yangyang would find it hard to marry into another family of equal standing. Who would want to marry a woman whose head was already marked by the world's gaze?

And the man had shown unparalleled righteousness. Any normal person would give him a thumbs-up. Could the Cui family turn their backs on him? They wouldn't dare—they had their reputation to consider...

Nine times out of ten, he would indeed become the son-in-law. There were few other options.

But in the eyes of some keen observers, this turn of events was truly worth pondering...

Far away in the capital, Tang Wanzhuang climbed a high tower at night, leaning alone on the railing, quietly gazing at the moonlight. After a long while, she sighed softly: "I never imagined..."

The image of that youth, who had never learned martial arts, standing before her with a blade pointed at her, shouting, "The killer is Zhao Changhe!" flashed through her mind again.

At that moment, who could have foreseen this day? In less than half a year, the youth's blade had emerged from Beimang and shaken the world!

"The Cui family..." Tang Wanzhuang murmured, then suddenly began to cough.

A maid behind her hurried over to drape a cloak over her: "Miss, the night is deep and the dew is heavy. You should rest early..."

Tang Wanzhuang said softly, "Send word: the wanted notice can be officially withdrawn."

"...Yes."

In the prefectural city where Zhao Changhe and Cui Yuanyang had once stayed and stolen clothes, Cui Yuanyong, who had come searching for his sister, had only just arrived. He was anxiously pressing local officials for news.

"Zhao Changhe? Yes, he was here. He even stole clothes. Was anyone with him? Ah, a girl who looked innocent but was actually seductive..." Before he could finish, a golden light flashed across the sky.

The official stared dumbfounded for a moment, then twitched his lips and fell silent.

Cui Yuanyong also looked up, a great weight lifting from his heart. He asked, "What did you say just now?"

"Oh, at that time, Young Master Zhao left the city with an imposing air. I said, how could the young lady beside him be so adorable? Whose daughter was she? So it was Miss Cui! No wonder! I should have known—such a pure, clear lotus rising from the water could only have been raised by a family as distinguished as the Cui!"

Xia Chichi, who was just leaving, stumbled and nearly twisted her ankle.

"What's wrong, Saintess?"

"I suddenly regret not killing that traitor. Can we still go back?"

"...The Chaos Book has moved. It means Zhao Changhe and Cui Yuanyang have escaped. Cui Wenjing must have arrived. Saintess, you should rest."

"I know the Chaos Book moved! That's what infuriates me! Who wrote that wretched book? Do they even know how to write?"

The others were baffled. Was the Saintess angry that her own entry on the list wasn't as flattering as this? No need for that—hers was impressive too, and she was ranked thirteenth, much higher than theirs, which was only two hundred and thirteen.

Thousands of miles away, in Jiangnan.

Yue Hongling sat alone on a rooftop, leisurely drinking from a wineskin. The words in the sky flashed by one by one, and she looked up, savoring them like a drink.

The words faded, the wine was gone.

Yue Hongling tossed aside the wineskin: "Just as it should be! How exhilarating!"

Then she stood up and stretched: "Hmm... it seems that any woman who comes into contact with you ends up with a bit of a... reputation issue..."

...

In Wei County, the inner courtyard of the magistrate's residence.

"Young Master Zhao, are you sure you don't want me to help you bathe?"

"I said no, and I mean no!"

"Master Cui said he knows you might misunderstand, but this isn't a test..."

"Whether it's a test or not, I don't care! How arrogant! I'll wash myself in a few minutes and be done. How long do I have to mess around with you people? Annoying! Go, go, find me a set of clothes. I'll wash myself!"

The maids giggled and left. This Young Master Zhao was truly rough.

Not only rough, but also oblivious to romance. If Miss Cui really ended up with someone like him, it just didn't seem to fit...

Even the maids knew that he was almost certainly going to be the Cui family's son-in-law. The Cui family arranging maids to serve him wasn't a test—that was how great families operated. Even if Cui Yuanyang had arranged it herself, it would likely be the same. If Brother Zhao wanted to play with a maid, he could.

That was the general understanding.

But Zhao Changhe had no mood for it. He was too exhausted. If he didn't wash up and sleep, he might drop dead. He didn't care about maids or anything else—just don't bother him while he slept.

After driving the maids away, Zhao Changhe finally soaked comfortably in the bathtub, easing his fatigue.

He fully understood the Cui family's headache at this moment. He himself didn't want the Chaos Book to be such a blabbermouth. What would Xia Chichi think? And binding himself too deeply to the Cui family was never his wish.

To be honest, he didn't know if Yangyang had any feelings for him, but Zhao Changhe himself had never had any improper thoughts.

The reason was simple: during the journey, when the little girl was cute and lively, they hadn't been close yet, and he was still annoyed by her. Later, when they grew closer and he found her truly wonderful, she was dirty as a little beggar. What kind of person would have thoughts about a beggar?

So from Zhao Changhe's perspective, this was truly pure and noble. He had simply done what needed to be done. Looking back, it should have been a stirring experience. But how had it turned out like this?

It wasn't as if he had written the Chaos Book. Who could stop that book from blabbing? Truly annoying.

But at least this time, the description was pretty cool. The awkward ranking had been overshadowed by Yangyang. No longer 250 or 91 Mr. Zhao—88 was such a good number that people would pay extra for it! Now Yangyang was 213...

Speaking of which, this ranking still surprised Zhao Changhe. This time, there hadn't been any real cross-level battles. Most of the kills were against peers or even lower-level small fry.

Qibubi didn't count as a cross-level opponent, but if Yangyang hadn't ambushed him, Qibubi could definitely have escaped. Then, hiding in the shadows and striking unexpectedly, Zhao Changhe might have been the one to die. So if he had been alone, he would likely have lost. The Chaos Book considered it a "joint kill," not Yangyang stealing the kill, which made sense.

But if that was the case, why had his ranking risen? Could it be that forcing an opponent to retreat while in poor condition was considered more valuable than killing Fang Buping?

And that last assassin from Tingxue Tower had been fleeing for his life, shooting arrows only to buy time until reinforcements arrived—there had been no real fight.

Yangyang's "achievement" also lacked substance. How could she make the list and even rank higher than his original 250?

Old Zhao felt a bit indignant on behalf of his past self... Now he truly understood why others resented those on the list and wanted to challenge them.

In the end, he could only conclude that the Chaos Book didn't just look at one-on-one battles. Zhao Changhe leading a young girl through all kinds of pursuits, blockades, schemes, and ambushes to escape was itself an impressive feat. Yangyang had made the list for the same reason—she hadn't been a burden at all; instead, she had cooperated well. For a pampered young girl with no combat experience, that was almost astonishing. If you took ten thousand schoolgirls, would even one of them perform like this?

The Chaos Book saw this as potential, something that could be polished. Perhaps she really was a rough gem. After all, the Hidden Dragon List valued potential, not raw combat power.

Turning these thoughts over in his mind, unsure if they were correct, Zhao Changhe grew drowsy in the hot water and unknowingly fell asleep.

In his dream, he saw a familiar face again. A woman floated silently in the deep night sky, her eyes closed.