Chaotic World Book

"Hello, sister-in-law!"

"Hello, sister-in-law."

The bandits' years were more miserable than those of office drones, with only a half-day off for the New Year's Eve, plus a whole day for the first day of the lunar year—a mere day and a half break.

Early on the second day, the stronghold started operating again. Zhao Changhe went to the martial arts arena to organize the troops and personally provided training, leading the practice sessions. Those who weren't training also had their tasks; the previously halted trap-setting efforts were also restarted.

Zhao Changhe felt that if he hadn't time-traveled, he might have become a capitalist that people would want to hang from the lamp posts.

But the safety of the stronghold was everyone's concern...

While Zhao Changhe was managing affairs, Yue Hongling was walking around the camp, mainly getting familiar with the locations of traps so that she wouldn't fall in again... Although her injuries were not serious now, and even if she did fall into a pit, she could leap out, it was still annoying.

She actually wanted to dismantle the traps... Forget it.

"Sister-in-law out for a walk?"

"Sister-in-law, how did you and the boss meet? They say the boss is from the Urban Kilns, but I just don't believe it."

"If you can't speak properly, you might as well cut off your own tongue," said Yue Hongling with an expressionless face.

The bandits were many who lacked the ability to speak properly; not everyone was spiritually awake, and there were some simpletons who asked why the boss was exhausted yesterday and if they could elaborate. Such a strong man was reduced to cramping—how powerfully must sister-in-law be squeezing him...

That simpleton was now hanging upside down at the edge of the martial arts arena as a public example. The boss didn't dare to fart, highlighting who really has the stronghold under their control.

"Don't bury spikes in these pits," Yue Hongling stopped a bandit who was trying to add spikes to a pit. "The stronghold is so large, not everyone is clear on where each trap is, and it wouldn't be good if we hurt our own people."

The bandit scratched his head: "But without spikes underneath, it's useless, right? Are we trapping people or providing them a place to squat and relieve themselves?"

"Bang!" The bandit got kicked away.

Feeling that Zhao Changhe was rough, Yue Hongling truly realized what it meant to have no filter and no taboos when she actually dealt with these bandits. Zhao Changhe at most cursed when scolding people, but his everyday language was still civilized...

With a headache, Yue Hongling pressed her temples and pointed at the other shrinking people around her: "You, you, you... Go and dismantle the spikes from the other pits. It's fine to set deadly traps outside the camp, like on the back mountain and the paths nearby; those can be more threatening. As for the inside of the camp, it's enough to trap the enemy to prevent accidental harm."

"Alright, we'll listen to sister-in-law!"

"Even without spikes, there are other methods. For example, step on a trap and ice water pours down—most people would lose a layer of skin in this season. Or when you step on it, vines above could entangle and close up, and so forth. There are many mechanisms in the world; use some imagination, and there will be rewards for anyone who comes up with a good setup!"

"Also, it's spring now; with such a large mountain, there are some places where we could plant things. It can supplement our resources and prevent eating through all our stores."

"Is this a bandit talking? Say that again?"

"No objections, right? Then go do it."

"Leader's order? Leader! Are you listening?"

Zhao Changhe's voice came from a distance: "Follow her instructions..."

Who is really the leader here?

The people in the camp really felt like they got an extra housekeeper, and this housekeeper was also a novice. She had no clue about domestic affairs and only knew how to order people around. Like when suggesting planting something, if she was asked what to plant, she would just stare blankly at you, leaving you wondering whether she was angry at the question or just had nothing in her mind.

She also didn't look at inventory and finances; she couldn't understand them at all. That kind of adorably clueless expression, recognizing each character but not understanding the meaning when put together, was especially cute.

Eventually, the leader had to personally oversee it, and then she would fiercely go on to lead the training.

People didn't know who was the real village chief and who was the lady of the house; it seemed like roles were reversed.

Lunchtime.

The village chief and the chief's wife hid in their room for a private meal, both eating in silence without saying much, as if speaking would make it all seem weird.

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"That... um..." It was almost the end of the meal when Zhao Changhe hesitantly began to speak.

Yue Hongling chewed on her meat, moving her cheeks rhythmically, and looked up at him.

Zhao Changhe was unexpectedly charmed and turned his head away to avoid looking any longer, clearing his throat, "I had them clean up the room next door, so you can start living there from today. There's a tub inside, and I've arranged for them to bring you hot water every night."

Yue Hongling blinked her eyes. The domestic arrangements were pretty good—maybe you should be the wife from now on.

In fact, Yue Hongling and Luo Qi were not the same; she really didn't need to sleep and could just meditate in a chair, so the awkward situation from before wouldn't happen. Yue Hongling herself had no plans to live separately; after all, if the "chieftain's wife" didn't live together, it would arouse suspicion, or at the very least, people might think the village chief lacked authority.

But Yue Hongling also knew that a man and woman living together would indeed pose some issues no matter what, and Zhao Changhe was trying to prevent her from any embarrassment ahead of time, even at the risk of being laughed at for lack of authority as a husband.

"Aren't you afraid of the subordinates laughing at you?" she asked on purpose.

"Compared to that, I'd rather you live here longer without any psychological barriers," Zhao Changhe muttered, "even though this housekeeper actually isn't good for anything."

Yue Hongling glared at him, and Zhao Changhe surrendered with a raise of his hands.

After staring at him for a long time, Yue Hongling finally pouted, "Fine. But no matter how long I stay, I will have to leave eventually. We'll rest after eating, and continue with the sparring today."

...

"Big brother, the atmosphere in the city has been a bit strange lately." In the city inn, the young girl asked her brother with some puzzlement, "I noticed some folks from distant black gangs have come, like Lin Feihu from the Black Tiger Gang, he's a master of the Mystical Gate Fourth Layer... Could it be that they've heard about your street fight with Yue Hongling and how both of you were injured, and are planning to come and pick up the spoils?"

The siblings were no longer dressed as commoners as they had been when they first passed by Beimang Mountain. The young girl was wrapped in a fur-trimmed hooded cloak, her head ensconced in the fluffy hood, revealing a rosy-cheeked face that was incredibly cute—a far cry from the "passerby" appearance from before. One could only say that disguising and keeping a low profile are essential skills in the Worldly Society.

Cui Yuanyong, dressed in a brocade robe, sat leisurely by the window reading, the very image of an elegant, jade-like young scholar.

Hearing his sister's question, he smiled warmly, "It can't be that. My fight with Yue Hongling had limits; we stopped at the point of contact, and the injuries would heal in three or five days. The onlookers could see we weren't seriously hurt, and by the time this news spreads, half a month will have passed… Everyone knows we would have already recovered, so what would they be here for?"

Indeed, it had been half a month since their arranged fight, and Yue Hongling had been living in the mountain stronghold as the "chieftain's wife" for that long. Cui Yuanyong still found it hard to grasp and could hardly envision this reality, even though he had seen it with his own eyes, especially since it was Yue Hongling who initiated it at Dao Zhe.

Half a month had passed in a flash, and presumably, Zhao Changhe, a vigorous man, must have made Yue Hongling quite satisfied, right?

Clearly, a rural lass is still crude, no matter her prowess in combat.

Fortunately, Cui Yuanyong really wasn't one to gossip; he didn't even mention this to his sister—he didn't want to discuss such matters with a maiden. Instead, he just told her that Yue Hongling was recuperating in the Beimang Mountain stronghold, to deter his eager sister, who wanted to catch the fugitive, from walking into trouble.

Cui Yuanyong thought for a moment, then continued with a smile, "So Lin Feihu's visit should have nothing to do with us; it could be that he's looking for trouble with Zhao Changhe. Having demonstrated his prowess in Beimang, Zhao Changhe has no rivals left; now, the real tigers from outside have been drawn here. To still vie for the position of Hidden Dragon in the Fourth Layer is quite disgraceful."

Hearing her brother's explanation, the young girl huffed, "What kind of brains do the country bumpkins have. If the Fourth Layer's expert shows up, will Zhao Changhe get chopped up, and what will happen to my mission?"

Cui Yuanyong was somewhat speechless, "With Yue Hongling, fully recovered and staying there, whom I couldn't defeat, him? Except for the Grandmasters on the Heaven, Earth, and Human List, anyone who comes looking for trouble is asking for it..."

The young girl also realized this and chuckled. Then her brows furrowed in confusion, "Speaking of which, it has been half a month already. Yue Hongling's injuries should have healed long ago, so why is she still clinging to the stronghold and not coming down yet?"

Cui Yuanyong, without lifting his head from his book, replied, "She's free to come and go as she pleases, to stay wherever she likes. Can you control her?"

"So what about my mission? Do I just sit around and wait here?"

"Weren't you supposed to be breaking through to the Third Layer Heaven? What have you been doing recently?"

"...You were injured, I was looking after you."

"Yes, yes, I really needed you to look after me," Cui Yuanyong sighed. "The head Tang gave you this mission, initially, I thought it was just to placate your childish desire to capture thieves..."

"Hmm?"

"Hmm, a wish. So, he found some random fugitive for you to play with. Now seeing Zhao Changhe's powerful presence, it's not like a mere bandit; it feels like I underestimated this. Head Tang might be testing certain thoughts of the Cui Family... You should abandon this mission—it's not a suggestion, it's an order."

The young girl's eyes twirled playfully, and she said with a giggle, "Powerful presence, you mean the stronghold rumors that he's being led around by the chieftain's wife like a cat, a so-called 'tiger on the balcony'?"

"... Stop changing the subject, drop it if I tell you to."

"That's no fun." The young girl stomped her feet and left in a huff, and who knows if she actually took it to heart.

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