Chaotic World Book

Naiveté is relative.

Zhao Changhe hadn't considered himself a naive child initially, playing truant whenever he had to stand as punishment at school, a true rebel at heart. But looking back, the scholarly air of Zhao Changhe in the campus days could no longer be found, replaced instead by a thick aura of banditry, his mouth full of foul language, wielding a knife that beckoned heads to fall like rain.

Compared to the present, wasn't he naive before?

When Yue Hongling asked this question, Zhao Changhe could somewhat imagine why she hadn't left this godforsaken place.

She must have been struggling with the thought of whether she had saved a demon, thus deliberately staying to observe.

The results of her observation, well… certainly they were not the same as her initial impression, but nor was he any demon, on the contrary, he was able to restrain the bandits from harming the innocent. He wondered how she would judge the situation in her heart, but at the very least, she must have felt relieved.

So after getting injured and fearing some harm might befall her, she actually sought refuge here…

If everything had truly changed, would he take the opportunity to abduct her as his bandit bride?

Get real, he couldn't possibly abduct her. Even injured, she could enter his room soundlessly and easily behead him, right? Did he really think he could do whatever he wanted?

"I suggest it's better you don't trust me," Zhao Changhe casually placed the medicine and bandages on the windowsill, his eyes downcast, "Everyone in the stronghold knows we're not lacking anything except for a bandit chief's wife. Can you apply the medicine yourself? For a traveler in the Worldly Society like you, such a trivial matter shouldn't need any help, right? I'll go out and stand guard for you."

The two sentences were starkly contradictory in meaning. Yue Hongling was somewhat speechless and didn't know what to think... if only she knew the word "tsundere."

"I can do it myself, thanks," she dismissed the mention of the bandit chief's wife, taking the medicine in her hand, signaling to Zhao Changhe with her eyes that she was about to begin.

Zhao Changhe then strode out the door, not glancing back even once, walking far away.

His shouts could be heard from outside: "Don't bother setting up here, go dig further away. On that square, what looks like our martial arts drilling ground, nobody would guess that even such a place has traps. Finish this up and call it a day, tonight everyone can eat and drink without restraint!"

Yue Hongling cracked a slight smile, then bit her lower lip gently and lifted her shirt slightly at the abdomen.

There was a sword wound, shocking to the eye.

In truth, the wound had already been tended to simply; the blood was not from continuous bleeding but from earlier.

She had her medication with her, which was likely of a higher quality than what Zhao Changhe offered. She didn't need his medicine. She wanted to find a relatively safe place where she could heal with peace of mind. After all, it was not merely a surface injury; there was still Sword Qi rampaging within, and it was not as simple as it seemed.

What she guarded against was not the opponent from this battle. On the contrary, she held a measure of respect for this assailant... Her guard was up against other outsiders who had witnessed her battle, lest there be villains harboring malicious intent. Lonely and vulnerable, it was difficult to fend off hidden attacks; she needed someone trustworthy by her side.

And it just happened that these kinds of people were not very strong, while Zhao Changhe's power was more than sufficient to fend them off.

She was indeed seeking refuge with Zhao Changhe, something she herself hadn't considered possible just a few hours before.

Zhao Changhe's reaction had now confirmed that she had not misjudged him.

"Are you done?" Zhao Changhe's voice came from outside.

Yue Hongling carefully secured the bandage and lowered her shirt, thinking of the moment she had lifted her shirt while this man was outside, her face involuntarily flushing slightly before she quickly recomposed herself, "Done."

Zhao Changhe stepped back into the room, seeing her still leaning languidly by the window, so unlike the typical Yue Hongling, he frowned, "I sense your injuries are not so simple, is there internal damage as well?"

"Yes, at this level, it's rare to have pure external injuries," Yue Hongling laughed lightly, "But it's not a serious problem, a few days of peaceful recovery and there'll be nothing to worry about."

"In this mere Beimang, I've fought unbeaten; who could hurt you so terribly? That's outrageous, wouldn't my stronghold be easily wiped out in the blink of an eye?"

"Your stronghold would indeed be wiped out in a blink if someone was serious."

"…So who exactly is this impressive person?"

"Hidden Dragon Number Three, Cui Yuanyong from the Qinghe Cui Family."

"Hidden Dragon Number Three, meaning the previous Number Two was displaced to Number Three by you?"

"That's right."

"So, he couldn't accept losing his position to you and came to make trouble? He must have traveled all the way from Qinghe to Beimang, perhaps hearing you had appeared here, and specifically came after you?"

"Right."

Zhao Changhe looked to the sky, "The Chaotic World Book hasn't changed… I feel the outcome of battles like yours differ from those of someone like me. Internal battles in the list indeed determine one's ranking. Since the list hasn't changed, it means that although you're injured, he suffered even more, correct?"

"Yes." Yue Hongling expressed her agreement with three consecutive assertions, suddenly breaking into laughter, "What are you doing, trying to prove you're not just some crude martial artist?"

Zhao Changhe remained expressionless, "I'm merely considering whether I should strike while he is weak, to eliminate this potential threat."

"Despite his injuries, he is not one to be taken lightly. Besides, his sister is with him, keeping watch," Yue Hongling sighed, "I don't wish to engage in such matters. He challenged me openly on the street, following the path of a Martial Artist, how could I trouble him after the fact?"

"You fled to me, isn't it because you're worried he'll cause trouble?"

"I'm not worried about him; he's all open and aboveboard, with his own dignity... What's with that look?"

Zhao Changhe's expression was indeed a little dark, his face quite stern. Hearing her question, he retorted stiffly, "Nothing. The gentleman from the aristocratic family naturally has dignity. 'Hidden Dragons' appreciate each other's elegance; us hill bandits only know how to take advantage of others in danger."

The sour tone almost spilled beyond the mountains. Yue Hongling looked at him with a strange expression for a long while before finally saying, "Yet, I sought refuge with you, not him."

Zhao Changhe looked a bit more pleased, but soon realized that his spite was completely unreasonable. After all, Yue Hongling wasn't anyone to him, and moreover, wasn't a hearty and exhilarating challenge something highly revered in the martial arts world, and something he loved as well?

So why on earth was he feeling so sour...

He felt a bit embarrassed, having lost face, so he awkwardly changed the subject: "Have you eaten yet—reaching the Mystical Gate Eighth Layer, you haven't fasted, have you?"

"No," Yue Hongling was not pretentious and smilingly cupped her fist, "Indeed, I'm a bit hungry, thanks for the hospitality, Village Chief Zhao."

Zhao Changhe really appreciated her straightforwardness, but for some reason, he still found himself saying, "Meeting again in the Worldly Society, you still calling me Village Chief Zhao?"

Yue Hongling seemed to smile: "Is this the Worldly Society? Isn't this your lair?"

Zhao Changhe was taken aback for a second, thinking she would seriously ask what else she should call him, but she actually used that comment to dodge the question. So she had a little cunning to her as well...

That's right, after all, she's just a girl younger than me. There's no such rigid label as a dashing heroine.

Zhao Changhe laughed dumbfoundedly and didn't bother to argue about it, striding out the door: "They just went to town to buy supplies; the good stuff hasn't arrived yet. I'll see what we saved from lunch and get something for you first. Don't run around; there are traps all over the mountain village, and without someone to guide you, it's easy to fall."

Seeing Zhao Changhe stepping out so decisively, Yue Hongling sighed.

"Whether there's a Heavenly Dao or not, I make my own way!"

It seemed her choice was indeed correct. This man had principles, unlike ordinary bandits.

What should I call you? How should I know?

She struggled to stand up, leaning on the table, and felt the Sword Qi chaotically coursing through her body, which seemed manageable, so she carefully climbed out the window and made her way to the backyard.

Since she hadn't fasted, naturally, there were other... needs, such as a heroine needing to relieve herself.

How could she dare to look for a toilet in his house? Naturally, the woods were the place to go.

But just as she had slipped out back, Yue Hongling felt something off under her feet, and her heart skipped a beat as she tried to rise into the air. However, with the Sword Qi in her abdomen in painful turmoil, she failed to jump up and instead "plopped" into a trap.

Yue Hongling was both angry and anxious. Zhao Changhe, do you have a problem, digging traps by your own courtyard wall, aren't you afraid of triggering them yourself during practice!

But for the moment, her True Qi felt twisted, and she couldn't leap out!

"Someone!"

"Boss, something's happening out back, let's check it out!"

"Damn, someone's really not watching their step, are they looking for trouble?"

"Wait, that direction... it feels like they came from the boss' house..."

And just like that, voices erupted, and a crowd rushed towards her from all directions.

Soon, someone peered over the edge of the trap, and Yue Hongling covered her face.

"Eh, looks like a woman... um, from the boss' house..."

"Move aside, move aside!" Zhao Changhe came rushing over with long strides, pulling back those craning their necks: "What are you looking at? Is it weird that I have a lady hidden away in my house? Get lost, all of you!"

Yue Hongling nearly wanted to tear off her own face.

The bandits were a mix of sorrow and indignation.

They should've known; this bastard had prior form, hidden away Luo Qi before, and now hiding a woman.

Is that necessary? You're so badass now, no one dares to compete with you; what's there to hide!

Someone shouted down into the pit: "Sis-in-law, the boss is alright, but it's boring that he always hides things. It's almost the New Year, you're already here, come join the bonfire party later, let's have a good time..."

Goddamn sis-in-law! What's fun about that!

Yue Hongling simply wanted to die.

She was too famous, some places even sold her portraits, and many in the Worldly Society could recognize her. Just like the other day when Wang Dashan saw her passing by and knew Yue Hongling had come...

So did they want the news to spread all over by tomorrow, that Yue Hongling was playing the role of a village chief's wife in a bandit stronghold?