Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 610: Sudden Change in Huaiyang

Xia Chichi knew Zhao Changhe truly had no ambition to rule a kingdom. He had even given Snow-Treading Crow the dragon qi he carried within him.

Of course, if he really desired it, there was likely no end to the dragon qi he could command. Yet giving it away so easily to his horse showed that ruling had never crossed his mind—he genuinely did not care for it.

But that did not mean she, Xia Chichi, wanted it. It was not something she desired just because he offered it to her.

Yet when she met Zhao Changhe’s gaze, she chose not to say this.

He meant well, after all. Perhaps in his heart, the dynamic between her and Xia Longyuan would always be that of father and daughter. What Xia Longyuan had done before was inhumane, but not beyond comprehension... In the end, she herself had not sorted out how she felt on the matter. There was no firm desire one way or the other. So, she decided to take things as they came.

Originally, she had planned to return and fight the northern invaders with him. Wandering around here had never been part of the plan. However, due to the Tang Clan’s sea route leading back to Ningbo, their disembarkation in Jiangnan opened new opportunities as they traveled north. Now, having left Jiangnan behind, they entered the territory of the Cao Gang—a place with its own history and complexities.

The Tang Clan and the Cao Gang had traditionally enjoyed close ties. Tang Buqi and the Cao Gang’s young gang leader, Wan Dongliu, were known to be good friends. But now, members of the Tang Clan heading north avoided Yangzhou, often detouring to other ports.

The reason was simple: the opening of maritime trade had created a conflict of interest between the Tang Clan and the Cao Gang, leading to a rift between the two groups.

The split went deeper still as the Cao Gang was affiliated with the Four Idols Cult.

The Four Idols Cult had long focused on infiltrating the Cao Gang. Wan Dongliu, the young master, had been indoctrinated into the cult by Vermilion Bird. Wan Tianxiong, the Cao Gang’s leader, was likely aware but turned a blind eye, seeing it as an additional option. Many of the Cao Gang’s members had been shielded from the influence of Maitreya simply because they had already pledged allegiance to the Four Idols Cult.

When Wan Tianxiong decided to rebel, he officially joined the cult and was granted a position as protector. This made the Cao Gang a prime example of a force backed by the Four Idols Cult. The Tang Clan’s position was now diametrically opposed to theirs. And the rivalry was not limited to politics—leading figures of the two factions had clashed since they were young ladies and were now even competing for the same man.

If the Tang Clan wanted to expand north, Wan Tianxiong’s Cao Gang was the first obstacle in their path. Conversely, if the Cao Gang sought to expand, they had only two options: north to Langya or south into Tang Clan. In the current troubled times, the brewing conflict between the Cao Gang and the Tang Clan was the one most likely to ignite first, with spectators already placing their bets.

For now, people from Jiangnan still crossed north under the guise of merchants. Trade had not yet been banned, though it seemed imminent.

Zhao Changhe’s party had no need to avoid Yangzhou. After all, their boat carried both a venerable and a saintess of the Four Idols Cult. So, even though Xia Chichi was not particularly eager to linger here, duty and decorum suggested they should at least pay a visit.

“I wonder if Wan Tianxiong or Wan Dongliu is in Yangzhou right now,” Zhao Changhe mused, eyeing the distant city as the sun dipped toward the horizon. He hesitated, unsure if they should stop for the night.

Xia Chichi muttered, “They might not even be there. Why do you need to talk to them? Have you seen something in the qi again?”

“No.” Zhao Changhe shook his head with exasperation. “Not every place has dragon qi. And even if the Cao Gang does, it would manifest through you. You’re the rightful heir, after all. I don’t currently have much to discuss with them. The only thing I might say is to urge them to attack the Wang Clan. But military matters are all about timing. It depends on what Wan Tianxiong is thinking. How much control do we actually have over the Cao Gang?”

Xia Chichi shrugged. “You’ll have to ask the venerable.”

Zhao Changhe turned his gaze to Lady Three.

Lady Three slumped over Snow-Treading Crow, playing dead.

He’s not asking this venerable. Why would he? Other than punishing the saintess to copying scriptures endlessly, I’ve never meddled in the affairs of the cult...

The three of them disembarked openly, leading their horse down the gangplank. They hadn’t yet decided whether to meet Wan Tianxiong and his son when they saw Wan Dongliu already waiting for them. Somehow, he had received word of the Venerable One and Saintess’s arrival.

Zhao Changhe stepped forward, ready to exchange pleasantries, but Wan Dongliu’s expression was dark and grim. “Venerable, saintess... my father was assassinated. The attack happened the night before last.”

Their expressions changed in an instant. “What happened?”

Wan Tianxiong was ranked eleventh on the Ranking of Earth when Zhao Changhe first transmigrated into this world. Ahead of him were formidable figures: the tenth-ranked Yang Jingxiu, the ninth-ranked Huangfu Yongxian, the eighth-ranked Shi Wuding, the seventh-ranked He Lei, the sixth-ranked Li Gongsi of the Li Clan of Longxi, and the fifth-ranked Maitreya. Higher still were the two venerables of the Four Idols Cult—Vermilion Bird and Black Tortoise—with Tang Wanzhuang caught between them. Finally, at the very top was the legendary thief saint, Ye Wuzong.

Over the past two years, four of the figures who once outranked Wan Tianxiong had fallen: Hai Pinglan, Maitreya, He Lei, and Shi Wuding. Wan Tianxiong had ascended to seventh place, further strengthening his prestige as a veritable powerhouse and regional overlord.

Zhao Changhe vividly remembered a time when Wan Dongliu warned him: “If you don’t leave now, my father will beat you to a pulp.” Back then, he had been genuinely terrified, fleeing faster than a rabbit.

Now, Zhao Changhe believed he had reached a comparable level of strength—at least on paper. Yet who knew if Wan Tianxiong had also advanced over the past two years? Zhao Changhe might still be slightly outmatched. However, he was confident enough to face such an opponent with his own strength without relying on anyone else.

And yet this formidable figure, someone Zhao Changhe still measured himself against, had been assassinated. In his own stronghold, surrounded by layers of defenses!

Judging by Wan Dongliu’s expression, the outcome was likely grim.

All thoughts vanished from Zhao Changhe’s mind. He grabbed Wan Dongliu’s hand and rushed toward the city. “Explain as we go. I won’t lie to you, Brother Wan—I have some skill in medicine now. If your father still breathes, there’s a chance I can save him!”

Wan Dongliu’s despair turned to wild hope. “If you can save him, Brother Zhao, then I shall swear that I shall be at your command until my very last breath!”

Xia Chichi ran alongside them, asking, “Who’s responsible?”

Wan Dongliu’s face darkened again. “Wang Daoning.”

Wang Daoning...

The three of them exchanged glances. At first, they were surprised. Then, realization dawned upon them. He’s minimizing any threats to his south before making his next big move!

If Wang Daozhong were here, he would finally understand what Wang Daoning meant when he said that Langya would be secure before leaving. At this point in time, there were no significant internal threats within Langya. Gui Chen and other powerhouses of the Wang Clan were holding down the fort. With the greatest variable to the south neutralized, Langya was indeed secure—at least in the short term.

In truth, it had been a long time since anyone had successfully decapitated a faction by assassinating its leader. Unless there was an overwhelming difference in strength, such operations were incredibly risky. Even with Wang Daoning ranked tenth on the Ranking of Heaven, the gap between him and Wan Tianxiong was not enough to make such a strike a sure thing. Wan Tianxiong was no pushover, and on his home turf, with layer upon layer of defenses, any infiltrator was just as likely to perish in the attempt.

Zhao Changhe asked, “How strong is Wang Daoning now?”

Wan Dongliu’s voice was grim. “He’s incredibly strong... During the fight, my father, shocked, managed to ask just two words: Profound Control? Wang Daoning merely smiled without answering.”

The Profound Control Realm.

The three of them exchanged glances, their expressions darkening.

Unbelievable. Wang Daoning had returned from his injuries overseas, and the next thing they heard, he had broken into the Profound Control Realm? Was he some kind of Saiyan, growing stronger every time he survived defeat?

“He was like a god of death. All our defenses, our arrays, our fighters who encircled him—they were useless. He left a field of corpses in his wake. My father took a palm strike to the chest that bore a force like that of a collapsing mountain. His ribs were crushed flat. Wang Daoning thought he was dead and simply moved to leave, though he still slaughtered a few more on his way out.” Wan Dongliu’s voice trembled with lingering fear. “Fortunately, I wasn’t there. Otherwise, I’d probably be dead too.”

“Your father survived?” Lady Three asked, surprised. “Wang Daoning miscalculated? The Tome of Troubled Times didn’t report his death, and he didn’t bother to confirm?”

“My father used Venerable Black Tortoise’s Turtle-Breathing Technique, tricking Wang Daoning just enough to survive. But it could only delay the inevitable. His injuries are critical—every doctor and physician we’ve summoned says there’s no hope. Wang Daoning probably thought it wasn’t worth doubling back to finish the job.” Wan Dongliu’s face was ashen, his voice icy with rage. “If my father doesn’t make it, I’ll march on to Puyang immediately. He killed my father, so I’ll kill his son. I’ll wipe the Wang Clan off of this world!”