Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 37: Inspiring Awe in Beimang

Zhao Changhe had no idea that the travelers he had just let pass were actually people on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons. He even went as far as to say that he could not meet anyone on the Rankings of Troubled Times in this garbage place...

He thought that after he made his arrogant proclamation, the first to visit would be the authorities.

After all, no wanted criminal would be arrogant enough to reveal their own location. What difference was there between that and parading around town with a board saying “come and catch me” glued on their back?

However, there was no use in hiding anymore. Someone had revealed Zhao Changhe’s whereabouts. If even those idiots could find him, then the authorities definitely knew where he was. There was no longer any difference between hiding and not hiding.

The significance of Zhao Changhe’s arrest order differed from ordinary murderers, though. If the court knew about his whereabouts, there was a high chance that they would send out First Seat Tang or some other important figure. Even if they sent some low-ranking imperial troops, they would be ordered to take him alive. They definitely would not cut him down willy-nilly.

If that was the case, then Zhao Changhe could just as well sit down and have a discussion with them. He had not done so until now because he had too little understanding of the court. Acting on seriously biased information would not be good.

However, even after waiting a long while, the officials hadn’t turned up. Zhao Changhe had not expected it to turn out like this... He did not know if it was that the authorities of the empire, in its twilight years, were really this inefficient, or if there was another reason. The only people that had come to find him so far were people on the road.

Clang!

Following the snapping of a saber’s blade, a man was kicked back a few zhang by Zhao Changhe. He rolled across the ground, coughing up blood.

“Take off his clothes and hang him upside down! For fuck’s sake, I’ve already said two hundred taels for one duel, yet you still came with nothing to freeload a battle? Do you think I have nothing better to do but wait for you people to challenge me? If you don’t have money then you’ll have to fork over your clothes. That’s the rule. It’s already been half a month and you haven’t heard?”

“Stronghold—Stronghold Master Zhao, spare me. Ahhhh. I really didn’t know...”

Zhao Changhe shaded his eyes from the sun and saw that, far away, there were quite a few people hanging and swaying around. He had a fierce expression plastered on his face, but in his heart, he was extremely delighted.

Half a month had passed since his arrogant proclamation.

Many people came to challenge Zhao Changhe during this period. Moreover, their strength in battle was very suited for him. Most of them were at the first or second layer of the Profound Gate, and occasionally, they would charge at Zhao Changhe together. The combat experience he managed to obtain from this was indescribably valuable.

Training by himself was not enough. Martial arts were not dance, and Zhao Changhe needed real combat. He could no longer improve by fighting the people in the mountain stronghold—for one, nobody dared to challenge him anymore, and even if they did challenge him, they didn’t stand a chance even as a group. That was why he was incredibly happy over having an endless source of training partners.

Among those that came to challenge him were a few tough guys—the type that Zhao Changhe had to deal with carefully lest he be in deep trouble. He was only hoping that more of this type of people would come to challenge him. Through fighting them, Zhao Changhe’s understanding of saber arts grew deeper and deeper, and controlling his saber was now like moving his own fingers.

Furthermore, it allowed him to progress faster in his cultivation. Zhao Changhe felt that by constantly using his internal and external arts together, they were getting stronger; he was fast approaching the point where he could attempt his next breakthrough.

The second heavenly layer for internal and external arts?

He did not know how many more days he would need to reach it and felt like there was still something lacking. Indeed, he was no genius.

In any case, these past few days were very enjoyable for him—very enjoyable. Even if the people that came had not even a single copper coin for him to take, Zhao Changhe would still be very willing to fight them. Putting aside those who actually brought the money, those that disobeyed the rule still had weapons Zhao Changhe could take.

Within merely half a month, the Beimang mountain road was filled with challengers hanging from trees by the side. The three hundred taels of silver in the warehouse also grew to almost two thousand taels and there were now good sabers and swords piled up inside.

“Dig a trap here. Yes, at my doorstep. Are you afraid I’ll step on it? Set up one behind the building as well.”

The stronghold was buzzing with activity. However, the bandits were not training but setting up all sorts of traps.

This was because, recently, there had been many people trying to sneak into the stronghold at night and kill Zhao Changhe in his sleep.

Of course, the people who attempted to do so were spared the upside-down hanging. Instead, their disembodied heads were displayed on poles along the road. Seeing the row of heads by the side of the stronghold, the bandits all looked at their boss with fear and reverence.

Who was it that called our boss soft because he isn’t willing to rob people? He doesn’t even blink when he cuts off people’s heads. His hands just get bloodier and his killing intent grows thicker. You can feel his demonic nature from a mile away.

This is true killing intent. Who in Beimang doesn’t fear it?

No one had dared to sneak into the stronghold at night these past two days, but this did not mean that they could relax. According to Boss Zhao, spring was upon them, and this meant that imperial troops could be coming. The traps were not just for the people on the road; they were also meant to help deal with imperial troops in the event of an attack.

That was why traps needed to be set up not only in the stronghold, but also outside it. They could not afford to miss a single spot behind the mountain.

A group of bandits who had nothing to do all day but think of looting suddenly started to look like construction workers going all out. None of them dared to oppose Zhao Changhe, not even in secret.

Zhao Changhe’s status was simply too high right now.

He felt like he was truly fucking great as he folded his arms and watched them work. I’ve completely turned a bunch of demons into men!

But he was also very clear he would not continue to be this powerful for long.

Under normal circumstances, those at the third layer of the Profound Gate or higher would not come and bother him for his 250th rank. Moreover, the truly strong were clear about the nature of the Ranking of Hidden Dragons and would not come to challenge him for his rank like the idiots here. However, he could not be completely certain that this was the case. In this type of world, people who could read and reason—who were cultured, in other words—were few and far between. This was not like modern times where people had to go through nine years of compulsory education.

Right now, there were no strong people in or near Beimang. It was perfectly suited to be a newbie village for Zhao Changhe to gain real combat experience. Still, what transpired here was bound to spread to other places. It was possible that someone at the third layer of the Profound Gate would come here... Traveling in this world was not convenient, though, so there was still a period of time before that happened.

With that said, Zhao Changhe knew they would definitely come.

Were the traps really set up to deal with imperial troops?

No, it was to deal with potential danger, whether it was the imminent coming of a strong cultivator at the third layer or the revenge of a recuperated Fang Buping.

“Boss.” Wang Dashan carefully approached his side. “It’s New Year’s Eve, do you have any plans?”

“I’m not your wife, so why are you asking me about festivities?”

“?”

Zhao Changhe said, “The stronghold has been doing well on money recently. Give everyone a red packet[1]. Also, take a few people to the city to buy wine and meat. Tonight, we’ll let our brothers drink and eat their fill.”

A happy expression appeared on Wang Dashan’s face. “Yes. I’ll go and buy it immediately.”

There was derision in Zhao Changhe’s eyes as he watched Wang Dashan merrily go on his way,

This vice stronghold master isn’t honest. Recently, he’s been secretly meeting with Fang Buping without telling me. Zhao Changhe had been aware from the start that the first group of people to provoke him were sent by Wang Dashan.

In order words, whatever he did in Beimang was being spread by both Wang Dashan and Fang Buping.

You want to become the stronghold master, don't you? Heh...let’s see how that works out for you.

For the time being, however, Zhao Changhe did not want to let Fang Buping know that he had already seen through his spy. Knowing who’s a spy is always better than being in the dark about it and having to make guesses. I’ll use him for now. This guy works pretty hard because he wants to gain my trust. How nice.

Whatever the case, I don’t have any secret that he can expose. I cultivate my internal art in my own room. How the fuck would he know about that? In any case, the priority is to break through to the second layer of the Profound Gate. Other matters can wait until then.

As for celebrating the new year? What does that have to do with me... I don’t even have a stronghold mistress. How am I going to celebrate by myself?

Looking at the fervor of the people in the stronghold cheering excitedly over being able to drink wine and eat meat tonight, Zhao Changhe felt incredibly lonely. At this moment, he thought most of home and missed his parents.

Men did not always share the same joys and sorrows.

He sighed quietly, looked up at the sun setting in the west, and returned to his hut.

Might as well go and train.

“Stronghold Master Zhao, you are like a tiger roaring in the mountains, inspiring fear across all of Beimang, so for what reason do you sigh?” A woman’s laughter filled the room. “You look quite different from your usual valiant self, I must say.”

Zhao Changhe stopped where he was with a stunned expression.

A woman dressed in red was sitting on a stool, leaning against the window, flipping through the sacred texts of the Blood God Cult. Seeing him walk in, she raised her head and smiled.

The light of the setting sun passed through the window frame and shone on this chivalrous woman; her smile was bright and clear. It was as if the evening sky grew brighter with her presence.

Your otherworldly beauty is like the red sun at dusk illuminating the clouds.

Even though Village Lord Luo was lacking in character, his praise could not be more accurate.

“Yue Hongling... Why are you here?” Zhao Changhe was a little nervous, though. He knew that the disparity in strength between him and her was massive. If she’s here because she disapproves of me killing too many people recently...

Eh... Hold on...

Zhao Changhe suddenly noticed that Yue Hongling’s clothes looked a little off. There was a deeper red around her abdomen which did not seem to be the actual color of her red dress.

It was a bloodstain.

She’s injured?

Yue Hongling knew what he was thinking about and shook her head, breaking out in laughter. “Indeed, I’m injured... You are the only person I’m familiar with here. What’s so strange about me seeking shelter with you? Did you really believe I came to subdue monsters and exorcize demons? You may appear fierce and imposing, but you think too much. As a man, you should be more direct.”

Without another word, Zhao Changhe searched through his cabinet for medicines and bandages. “To each their own. I’m afraid a certain heroine might not make it out of the Rankings of Hidden Dragons if she’s so lacking in vigilance as to allow a stranger to ride behind her.”

“Ha...” Yue Hongling tilted her head and looked at him. “Could it be that the Zhao Changhe back then, who hadn’t experienced all this, was actually an innocent youth?”

A myriad thoughts and feelings passed through his head as he looked out the window at the setting sun, lost in thought. After a while, he replied softly, “Yes.”

“Then...” Yue Hongling watched him take out a bandage and asked in a low voice, “Can I still trust the Zhao Changhe I see in front of me?”

1. Red envelopes containing money are traditionally given to other people on Chinese New Year. ☜