Chaotic World Book

Regardless, Sun Jiaoxi's appreciation for Zhao Changhe was genuine. He taught wholeheartedly, truly treating Zhao as a favoured disciple. Zhao too had mixed feelings inside. For now, he set aside the matter of the Array Formation and devoted himself to learning the Blood Evil Saber Technique.

After all, he dared not inquire too deeply about the essentials of Array Formation, as it would surely arouse suspicion.

The Blood Evil Saber was one of the martial arts that complemented the Blood Evil Skill, utilizing the blood and Qi driven by the Blood Evil Skill to wield the saber, which made its power even greater and its bursting force extremely fierce. The techniques of the saber had few fancy moves, preferring broad and forceful swings. At a deep level of practice, even the Qi driven by the saber could wither plants and instantly kill weaker opponents, making its power immense.

The most advanced moves, for the time being, were beyond his strength or could only be performed with great difficulty, seriously depleting him and leaving him without fighting capability.

A complete system of Cultivation Techniques, moves, and ultimate skills was visibly taking shape.

Including the accompanying footwork—since there was emphasis on positioning, naturally it began to intersect with his knowledge of Array Formations.

Zhao Changhe studied very diligently.

Whatever thoughts he had... he also needed to gain strength slowly.

As for personal preference, he quite liked this type of explosive saber technique. His current regret was that the saber was too light, and he didn't know where to find a heavier one...

During rest, Zhao unconsciously reached into his pocket and gently held the unutilized Blood Stabilization Pill.

Sun Jiaoxi surely couldn't imagine how severe the contrary psychology this incident had on someone like Zhao.

...

When he returned that evening, Luo Qi was nowhere to be found.

Zhao Changhe frowned slightly.

This Winter Solstice day was not just about Zhao's breakthrough or the discovery of the secret door in the pool, but also marked an important point for Luo Qi.

—It had been a month since everyone arrived, and they had not plundered any merchants or raided towns and villages. Now, with so many people in the large stockade hunting, where could enough game be found in the dead of winter? The hunting had become more and more difficult over the month, and in the past two days, increasingly more people had returned empty-handed.

What kind of bandits were these? They were clearly competing with hunters from outside the mountain for food—and losing, since they were not professionals.

If not for the hunters' fear of bandits and their reluctance to venture too deep, they probably wouldn't have even the little income they had before.

This sorry state was mainly because the squad leader Fang and many other Deacons were not focused on this, and Sun Jiaoxi's duty was only to transmit techniques. Nobody really cared about this aspect of life in the stockade. But the disgraceful performance of the past month had embarrassed squad leader Fang, who had recently issued a deadly order that the stockade had to take action.

Luo Qi had already begun scouting early, really just as Zhao had speculated, to investigate the nearby towns and villages to see if there were any heartlessly wealthy landlords to set an example by acting the part of dispensing heavenly justice.

Indeed, Luo Qi had found a particularly vicious gentry. Discussions about taking action had already started a few days ago, and it seemed that today might be the day Luo Qi took action.

Zhao felt some warmth in his heart. Previously, Luo had said that Zhao was naive, but in practice, he had indeed followed that path. Whether it was his own desire or out of consideration for Zhao's feelings, it made Zhao feel warm inside.

Through the time spent living together, and especially after the events of last night's bath and the grueling role of protector, Zhao knew that no matter how he verbally treated her like a man, in his heart, he truly considered her family.

Or, more directly, as a wife.

"Boss Zhao, Boss Zhao, it's bad!" One of the bandits he was on good terms with came running in a hurry: "Just now, a group of brothers who watch the road went to report to Deacon Hall, they saw someone passing by..."

Zhao Changhe didn't immediately grasp the significance, "Someone passing by? What's that got to do with me? You don't need to get so excited about robbing people..."

"Excited about what, boss?!" The bandit stamped his foot in frustration: "The person who passed by was Yue Hongling! That's someone even the Sect Hierarch can't beat, who the hell would dare provoke her looking for a death wish? They reported it to Sun Jiaoxi, and even he's backed off!"

Zhao Changhe was stunned, still not understanding what it meant, then he heard the bandit continue: "Yue Hongling headed toward Zhang Village, it looks like she plans to stay there. The brother Luo you live with, isn't he going to raid Zhang Village today? So, brother came to report to you, what else would I report!"

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Changhe was already like a tornado, hurtling out of the stockade and down the mountain path.

...

Luo Qi's action today had initially gone very smoothly.

In a small, remote town outside the mountain, at the estate of the landlord outside the town, how could there be any formidable masters stationed? With Luo Qi at the First Layer of the Mystical Gate, leading a dozen or so savage bandits, they brazenly broke in and overcame any resistance with ease.

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In just a moment, everyone capable of resistance on the estate had been incapacitated by Luo Qi, who hit their acupoints. With a flick of her delicate hand, she ordered, "Go loot, but don't lay a finger on the women. Anyone who does, I'll chop off their dog paws!"

The bandits all looked as if they had swallowed shit. We came all this way to work, and we can't even touch the women? Are we still bandits? Do you really think you're a hero executing righteous deeds on Heaven's behalf?

But no one dared to defy Luo Qi. Only those bandits that followed Luo Qi knew that this skinny and seemingly frail leader was actually more ruthless than the notorious Zhao Changhe of their stronghold.

Just a few days ago, some idiot got drunk and was disrespectful to Luo Qi, saying that had it not been for the higher-ups appointing Luo Qi as their leader, he would be no more than a boy toy for the gang to play with. Not only did he say it, but he also tried to lay his hands on her.

And then, Luo Qi pointed his acupoints and dragged the man to the edge of a cliff, releasing his grip inch by inch with an emotionless face, watching as the man smashed into a bloody pulp. The indifference in Luo Qi's eyes at that moment was indeed bone-chilling.

Indeed, only someone as ruthless as Zhao Changhe could share a room with Luo Qi and be so inseparable.

When Luo Qi reported back to the stronghold, she simply said that the man had lost his footing and fallen off the cliff. The stronghold didn't bother to investigate such matters, and so it was deemed a simple accident.

In these lawless times, human life was as cheap as grass, even within the stronghold itself.

Who would dare to defy such a leader? Just obediently go loot and be done with it.

Zhao Changhe didn't even know about this, and even if he did, he would probably think it was an exaggeration. The Luo Qi in his heart was not a cruel person...

Luo Qi looked on indifferently at the landlord's family, lying incapacitated before her. It was her first time committing such actions, and she didn't know whether she should kill them.

In theory, bandits didn't necessarily kill when looting, especially if there was no fierce resistance encountered. It wasn't because the bandits were kind-hearted, but rather like raising pigs for slaughter.

These residents living outside the mountains found it difficult to relocate their entire families quickly. After being robbed once, they would still live here, only hiding their wealth more tightly and perhaps reporting to official forces for bandit suppression. This way, there would still be something to loot on the next visit... Some even had an understanding: when the bandits came, they would straightforwardly pay the protection money, thereby establishing a connection, and in turn, attracting the bandits as their own external support to further dominate the local area.

The bandits also abided by an unspoken rule, not to strip their own foothills bare, perhaps even offering aid in times of need.

Therefore, it was difficult to eradicate many mountain bandits because, in reality, they had informants everywhere.

But Luo Qi felt something odd... because she had investigated the misdeeds of this tyrannical landlord and had come to enact justice on Heaven's behalf, not to play the game of mutual understanding with bandits and landlords. So, shouldn't she kill to enact justice? Could there be a hero's guidebook she could borrow and take a look at?

While hesitating, she suddenly heard the sound of horse hooves in the distance.

Luo Qi frowned slightly, stepped outside to check, and saw a figure in a red dress riding at full gallop against the setting sun.

"Damn it, I've really run into a hero!" Luo Qi turned and fled. "It's Yue Hongling! Retreat quickly!"

But was it already too late?

In the blink of an eye, Yue Hongling had already blocked their escape route.

Her beautiful eyes swept over Luo Qi, landing on the frantic scene within the estate, where a bunch of bandits was trying to flee.

"Bandits from the Blood God Sect, huh..." Yue Hongling sighed. "I've known about this mountain stronghold in Mount Mang for a while. There was something important recently, but I should have come to eliminate it sooner..."

For some reason, despite feeling intimidated in her heart, Luo Qi was irritated when she saw Yue Hongling's impression of righteousness and actually sneered, "What's with the hero act? You wander the Worldly Society every day; how do you make your living? Where do your daily expenses come from? Isn't it the same as us, robbing the rich to aid the poor?"

Yue Hongling paused for a moment and said with a slight chuckle, "I do indeed rob, but I rob from people like you."

Luo Qi: "...Fuck."

This Yue Hongling wasn't quite like the lecturing heroes she had imagined... Actually, she was somewhat similar to Zhao Changhe. Luo Qi wondered how much of Zhao Changhe's personality was inherent and how much of it was cultivated to be close to Yue Hongling?

Yue Hongling dismounted from her horse, still amused, and drew her sword, "There are not many bandits who dare argue with me, but you are one. I wonder if your swordsmanship is as sharp as your tongue."

Annoyed, Luo Qi drew her sword and took a defensive stance. In reality, she could still argue her case, but for some reason, she didn't feel like arguing with Yue Hongling at all, finding her utterly annoying.

At that moment, as if a storm had passed by, the overwhelming force of Blood Evil rushed toward them from a great distance.

Yue Hongling was slightly moved and turned to look. A large man in the image of a charging horse was racing over through the snow.

Luo Qi felt a mix of surprise and amusement.

He really did come at the right time.

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