Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 314: Thank you, Tarantula

Zhao Changhe could guess that Gang Leader Qian had external support. After all, he only had Yang Qianyuan relay a message rather than coming to meet him personally, suggesting that he had some other backing.

On the other hand, the connection between Tian Lingzi and Tarantula was unexpected.

Although he suspected that Tian Lingzi’s behavior might just be a facade and did not trust the other party that much, Tarantula had indeed tricked Chichi into believing that Yang Qianyuan was with Tian Lingzi. With her having done so, it logically made sense for Tarantula to be on the same side as Gang Leader Qian, or at least enemies with Tian Lingzi, as she directed trouble toward Tian Lingzi with apparent malice.

It doesn’t make sense for her to do that if she really is allied with Tian Lingzi. Could Chen One’s intelligence be wrong?

Zhao Changhe pondered for a moment, but ultimately found Chen One more trustworthy. Initially, he planned to play the role of a senior, simply sitting in the main hall and listening to the negotiations. But now he dismissed that idea. As a senior expert who had been invited to attend the banquet, he did not need to explain his actions to anyone. If he did not want to reveal himself, then he could do just that. He headed to a side room to drink.

Yang Qianyuan, who eagerly wanted him to stay, watched as Zhao Changhe walked away.

Zhao Changhe realized that being alone in the side room gave him a lot more room to maneuver and a lot more options.

Chen One quietly slipped in and sighed with relief. He then said with a smile, “I was afraid you’d think you had the situation under control and join the negotiations openly. It’s good that you stepped aside. Now we can discuss some things first."

Zhao Changhe said, “I entered Kunlun as Wang Daozhong, and everyone in the east of the city knows about it. You should have known right away that it was me. After all, you should have been told that I would be coming here. Why didn’t you come look for me?"

Chen One replied irritably, “Of course I went to look for you, but you were supposedly chasing a beautiful young man! Then Zhao Changhe appeared at the Yukun Gang, you nearly drove me crazy."

“Uh..." Zhao Changhe found it hard to argue. He forcefully said, “Was it so hard to tell me to come to this lousy restaurant? I could have easily been the one to come to you instead. There was no need for this all to be so complicated."

Chen One remained expressionless and said, “Our base in Kunlun is an important secret. We can’t just casually reveal it to outsiders. Who are you to us anyway? You’re certainly not Lady Three’s husband. How old are you even?"

Zhao Changhe: “..."

“Furthermore, even if you were her husband, she would not reveal our organization’s secrets that easily," added Chen One. “I was supposed to find you secretly the moment you arrived here. I was not supposed to reveal what I was doing here. But in the end, it just so happened that you came to this restaurant, so there’s nothing much left to hide. That was why I approached you so directly.”

Zhao Changhe smiled and said, “Not bad, at least you know what to prioritize and how to be flexible. At this point, there’s no point in hiding."

“Of course, we’re naturally interested in finding the secret realm. That is my main task here. The conflict between these two gangs involves a secret realm. We lack strength here, so your arrival is very timely."

“Tell me more."

“Originally, although Yukun Pavilion did have many unusual and peculiar goods, they were ultimately just one of the channels for selling stolen goods. Their operations were still relatively normal. It was only recently that they suddenly began selling numerous items that seemed to be from the ancient era. It’s one thing to have one or two stolen items that appeared as such, but so many? It was out of the ordinary, so many people began to suspect that the goods they were selling weren’t stolen goods but treasures found in a secret realm."

After saying that, Chen One smiled in a suggestive way. “But don’t you think it’s quite odd?"

Zhao Changhe nodded. “Mm-hm, it’s like they’re asking for trouble by drawing so much attention. They could have just sold the items slowly or transported them elsewhere to sell. Their actions must be intentional, is what you’re trying to say?"

“Indeed, indeed." Chen One secretly praised him. In fact, he had deliberately asked this question to test the intelligence of this supposedly smart man, and Zhao Changhe’s response was exactly what he was looking for.

Chen One glanced at the main hall outside, where people from both factions were gathering noisily as they prepared for the banquet. Seeing that the wine was being prepared to be served, he continued quickly, “If Tian Lingzi isn’t out of his mind trying to attract powerful enemies to kill him, there’s only one explanation. He intends to lure others into a trap, cooperating with anyone who comes to him and leading them into the secret realm. Based on our extensive experience with secret realms, there’s only one main reason why someone would lure so many outsiders into entering a secret realm."

Zhao Changhe said flatly, “Poison."

Chen One clapped his hands and said, “Exactly. They need a lot of people to test and clear the poison, and they’re using this opportunity to eliminate rivals and have an easier time taking control over the eastern part of the city. This is why I suspect Tarantula to be allied with them. Only with her cooperation would their actions make sense.”

Zhao Changhe suddenly understood why Tarantula had tricked Xia Chichi into looking for Tian Lingzi, and even why Tarantula had personally received Chichi. At that time, Chichi appeared to be an outsider to her, and that was the perfect candidate to be lured in to test poison.

Last night, when Chichi mentioned catching a spider at the general store, Tian Lingzi must have been intensely shocked. Yet, he managed to put on an act of being upright and even began talking them into working together to deal with Tarantula.

It was no wonder he and Chichi were misled. Tarantula’s move of directing Chichi to Tian Lingzi was extremely deceptive. Fortunately, his collaboration with one of the best intelligence organizations in the world made everything clearer once he got more information.

Zhao Changhe suddenly stood up.

Chichi is in danger! Thank god I didn’t waste too much time talking!

*

At that moment, the Jinqian Gang and the Yukun Gang were glaring at each other in the main hall. Gang Leader Qian accused the Yukun Gang of stealing a treasure from the Jinqian Gang, which was clearly just an excuse to start trouble.

The Yukun Gang’s connection to the Thieves Guild made Gang Leader Qian worried that Thief Saint Ye Wuzong might support them. He needed an excuse to provoke a conflict and probe them. If Ye Wuzong did not come forward, it would be the green light to force Tian Lingzi to hand over their treasures. This was why he wanted “Wang Daozhong" to make a move. If an outsider made a move, any complaints from Ye Wuzong would be directed at Wang Daozhong, leaving the Jinqian Gang out of having to face someone as powerful as Ye Wuzong. But if Wang Daozhong did not act, Gang Leader Qian still had other powerful backers he could rely on.

Meanwhile, Tian Lingzi was also putting on a show, arguing indignantly and logically that they had not stolen anything from the Jinqian Gang. Both sides were relentlessly bickering.

Xia Chichi was not seen in the main hall. She was lurking in a treetop outside a window, watching and waiting for Tarantula to appear.

However, she had no idea that Tarantula would only appear behind her, as Tian Lingzi had already betrayed her.

A silent and deadly poisonous mist approached her from behind, and behind the mist were eyes filled with intense hatred.

From a distance, Vermillion Bird watched with folded arms expressionlessly. Should I save this little brat? The only thing she’s good at is falling in love! She did manage to assassinate a traitor, but when it comes to dealing with Tarantula, I have to step in to save her. Where’s the experience you were supposed to gain? What did you come to Kunlun for? To buy a gourd? Fine, go and buy it! See what happens!

As these thoughts crossed Vermillion Bird’s mind, Xia Chichi seemed very focused on the argument in the hall. Yet suddenly, a charming smile emerged on her face.

Iceheart flashed out from beneath her ribs. She executed an elegant backward sword slash, cutting through the poisonous mist and directly aiming for Tarantula’s throat!

It was as if she had been waiting for her all along!

Not only was Tarantula caught off guard, but even her master and the lover who knew her best both forgot that she had a “lie detector"—Iceheart specialized in figuring out the deceitful and untrustworthy. As early as when they had made plans with Tian Lingzi, Chichi already had to prevent Iceheart from moving.

From the moment she lay in wait in the treetop, Xia Chichi knew that her opponent would not appear in the hall but somewhere around her. She had been waiting for this the entire time!

While Zhao Changhe was disguised as Wang Daozhong and busy with his own matters, this was her trial.

I’m at the peak of the ninth layer, and I’m right before the doors of the Profound Mysteries. I came to Kunlun for training... The venerable said that unless I face a desperate situation where I’m completely on my own, I won’t be able to unlock my full potential and break through.

However, who said that people can only unlock the door to the Profound Mysteries in dire straits? There are multiple paths to a breakthrough in martial arts.

The Profound Mysteries are unlocked when a bridge is formed between heaven and man. Understanding the heaven’s will above, and man’s will below; the convergence of heaven and man is nothing more than this.

In these treacherous lands of the Western Regions, fate brought her and her lover together. In the face of adversity, he appeared before her, easily curing her from the poison that ailed her. He even directly faced the venerable and said, “You don’t dare to kill me.” From the innocent feelings of their time in the mountain stronghold all the way to now, he had become a reliable husband.

They could openly walk hand in hand through the streets of this city of villains. They strolled under the night of this foreign land, enjoying the snow of Kunlun.

As lovers, they did what they should have done a year ago.

Her mind was clear, her heart open. Was this not the true meaning of a connection between heaven and man?

Yue Hongling had already broken through, so why should she delay in reaching the first layer of the Profound Mysteries any longer?

Iceheart soared, swirling snow from the treetops. The roars of a dragon and a tiger stirred the wind and clouds in the sky.

An innate sword, the sign of a breakthrough!

Tarantula’s expression changed drastically.

She was ranked fifty-eighth on the Ranking of Man, but she had not unlocked the Profound Mysteries. Yet Xia Chichi, who was supposedly only ranked third among hidden dragons, was actually breaking through to the Profound Mysteries and becoming a master right before her eyes!

“Thank you, Tarantula."

In the distance, Vermillion Bird stared in stunned silence. Then, she smiled and disappeared.

Chichi has grown up. She no longer needs me to protect her in secret. Now, it’s time for me to investigate that eruption.

As for that comment she had about red clothes, I’ll settle the score for that some other time. She better not think she’s suddenly become some kind of big shot while she’s just at the first layer of the Profound Mysteries!