Chaotic World Book

Look at that momentum, Yue Hongling had initially thought that a high-level bandit had come to the village. Maybe it was some Village Chief.

But as the burly man approached, she was staring with wide eyes, her mouth slightly agape, speechless.

Zhao, Zhao Changhe?

This Zhao Changhe, with his bearded face and the scar... He looked so unfamiliar.

Zhao Changhe, running at full speed while activating his Blood Evil Skill, also realized that although he had not learned any qinggong, his speed indeed had increased significantly. The only downside was that it was quite exhausting. The distance from the Zhao Mansion to the bandit stronghold was relatively short, and he would arrive in about ten or so minutes, but by then he was already out of breath.

He stood in front of Luo Qi, huffing and puffing with his face covered in sweat, looking at Yue Hongling as if he wanted to say something, but he couldn't catch his breath to speak right away.

Yue Hongling looked quite adorable with that expression...

The snowflakes drifted by, and the atmosphere became quiet for a moment, while Luo Qi behind Zhao Changhe tilted her head to the side.

The look of astonishment on Yue Hongling's face slowly dissipated, replaced by a touch of indifference, "So that's it. You were actually at the Beimang sub-branch of the Blood God Sect. I was looking too close to home, never considering this place."

Zhao Changhe said, "Your first instinct was to go to Xue Canghai to demand people?"

"At that time, I thought you were dead," Yue Hongling did not shy away from admitting, "I regretted sending the naive young man, who had just escaped from the wolf's den, into the tiger's den. I could have taken you with me. You also wanted to become my disciple. It was my own desire for freedom that led me to leave you at the Luo Family Manor... When I thought you were dead, my momentary anger and self-blame are not worth mentioning to others. I don't know if I can stand against Xue Canghai, but I knew I couldn't rest until I had faced him to get an explanation."

As expected.

The Chaotic World Book shimmered in the night sky, Yue Hongling chasing after Xue Canghai thousands of miles... That battle was indeed for him, Zhao Changhe.

Zhao Changhe sighed, "Later on, you must have heard about the murderer Zhao Changhe. What are your thoughts? Do you regret sending this bastard to the Luo Family, causing Luo Zhenwu's plight?"

Yue Hongling gazed at him quietly for a long time, then sighed softly, "Not at all. I heard about what you said during the incident, and I knew that it was Luo Zhenwu who dishonored the Zhao Family, and you were avenging that. So, I thought it was out of helplessness that you followed the Blood God Sect. That's nowhere you belong. I've been searching through all the Blood God Sect hideouts I'd heard of, wishing to take you out of there... But I never thought you'd actually be in Beimang."

Zhao Changhe's throat moved as he spoke in a low voice, "Thank you."

Luo Qi, standing behind, looked to the side and thought that if she were Zhao Changhe, she too would be moved. Unfortunately, she was not Zhao Changhe, and right now all she felt was growing dislike for Yue Hongling.

Why are you offering such loyalty to a man you barely know? Are you ready to accept the consequences if you've stolen his soul?

Yue Hongling then said, "But looking at you now, you seem to be doing well? The Blood Evil Skill you've practiced seems to have reached an advanced level... in just a month..."

Zhao Changhe replied quietly, "Without learning the demon skill, I can't protect myself."

"If that's the only reason..." Yue Hongling said, "you're not yet deeply bewitched by the demon skill, and you can still turn back. That arrest warrant will be forgotten in time. With some disguise, you could still lead an ordinary life under an assumed name."

"An assumed name?" Zhao Changhe suddenly chuckled, "Sister... Miss Yue, let's be frank. Not to mention whether I can turn back now, but to live incognito is not my desire. Zhao Changhe did not come into this world to roam idly in the countryside."

Murderer, Zhao Changhe!

The six words flashed through Yue Hongling's mind.

Could it be that in just a month, the naive young man had died? No, he was never that naive young man.

Hence in the Worldly Society's future encounters, she would never again hear the address 'sister'.

"So... is that the reason you're here today to help the bandits?" Yue Hongling's eyes grew sharp, "Are you going to say, being in the Demon Cave, one is helpless?"

Zhao Changhe answered calmly, "No, it's just because she's behind me."

A smile unconsciously played at the corners of Luo Qi's mouth.

Yue Hongling couldn't discern the gender from "she" and thought Zhao Changhe was speaking of loyalty, "Is this person your close friend?"

"We depend on each other for life and death," Zhao Changhe stated.

Luo Qi's smile grew wider.

Yue Hongling remained silent for a moment, then sighed softly under her breath, "This person has not harmed anyone, and the ladies of the manor are unharmed... you may leave... We once had a connection, but from now on we're strangers, as if the youth I've been chasing this past month is already dead. If next time I catch him committing evil, it won't matter if it's him or you, I will show no mercy."

Having said that, she flipped onto her horse, ready to leave.

This past month, through wind and frost, rain and snow, and the journey of thousands of miles, she was searching for that youth, and even her trip to Beimang this time was just to try her luck here... Yet, unexpectedly, the reunion was like this, with the youth she was searching for standing in her way for someone else's sake, nearly drawing his sword against her.

Even Luo Qi felt a tinge of regret at this time, looking at that figure in red, sensing an indescribable desolation.

But Zhao Changhe raised his voice and said, "Miss Yue, some things are not as you imagine, like this Zhang Manor, notorious for its wickedness, no better than Luo Zhenwu. My brother had found lots of solid evidence beforehand, so you really don't need to be troubled over this matter. As for other things..."

Yue Hongling reined her horse to look back, curious what else he might say.

Zhao Changhe paused for a moment, then suddenly smiled, "Should we meet in the Worldly Society again in the future, I guess 'sister' is a term I truly won't be able to use, because I asked around and found out you are actually two months younger than me."

Yue Hongling: "..."

Zhao Changhe smiled, "But being strangers that might not necessarily be the case... I've always been grateful that the first thing I saw when I entered the Worldly Society was the chivalrous Yue Hongling; thus, no matter how this world shapes my view, my ideal of the Worldly Society stays intact in my heart."

Yue Hongling's eyes showed a hint of surprise, then she suddenly laughed, spurring her horse to leave, "Then I shall wait and see, how this 'Zhao Changhe who cut through the Chaotic World' will be spoken of in the Worldly Society in the future."

"Chaotic World is right there," Zhao Changhe replied calmly, "At most, I have but turned the first page of the Chaotic World Book."

This remark had quite a taste to it, not only to Yue Hongling but also to Luo Qi, who seemed to see Zhao Changhe in a new light from behind, nearly wanting to pat him on the shoulder and praise him for being somewhat cultured, yet she forcibly held back.

Somehow, Zhao Changhe seemed especially literati-like when facing Yue Hongling... Yet Yue Hongling herself wasn't some scholarly person, but rather a typical Worldly Society figure, the kind that hadn't read much at all.

Quite strange.

Yue Hongling wanted to say something, but felt there was nothing left to say. At this point, actions would speak, words were of no use.

Yet having not ridden far, the distant sky's residual glow suddenly flared like fire, fiercely painting half the sky red, then rapidly fading as the sun set, and darkness swiftly followed.

Yue Hongling's brow furrowed slightly as she murmured softly, "Vermilion Bird... Has she also come to Beimang? What secrets really lie here..."

Zhao Changhe's heart stirred, and he called out loudly, "Miss Yue."

Yue Hongling turned her head back, only to hear Zhao Changhe ask, "Miss Yue, with your extensive Worldly Society experience, do you know where typically is the 'eye' of an array that takes the shape of the Seven Dragon Constellations?"

"It's usually in the Heart constellation," Yue Hongling responded casually, with no desire to continue the conversation, and finally receded into the distance.

Yue Hongling was not one to act recklessly; with her strength, if she were to be cornered by the Vermilion Bird Venerable, things were bound to go poorly.

She was just at the forefront of the Hidden Dragon List, while the Vermilion Bird Venerable was...

On the Earth List.

A Grandmaster counted among the top in the entire world.

Watching Yue Hongling disappear into the night, Zhao Changhe finally turned around, his eyes burning as he looked at Luo Qi.

Luo Qi's eyes gleamed back at him too.

For his sake, Zhao Changhe had almost completely fallen out with Yue Hongling...

His dream of the Worldly Society, his dream of the heroine... could not compare to her, Luo Qi.

To be honest, nobody could predict Yue Hongling's thoughts, what count did that little connection have? If you really got down to it, they didn't know each other at all, it was rather Zhao Changhe who was in her debt. If she was truly disappointed, it wouldn't be surprising if she drew her sword against Zhao Changhe, who was now boldly putting his life on the line in front of her.

Luo Qi felt a warm glow in her heart; she thought that Zhao Changhe might say something pleasant now, something that would make her happy, then perhaps tonight, tonight she could hold him in her sleep without any issue.

But then she heard Zhao Changhe begin, "Vermilion Bird is here, she's probably come to oversee that secret excavation; we must act immediately tonight, or it'll be too late."

Luo Qi's face turned strangely pale, and she bit her lower lip tightly.