Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 105: Yangzhou

“So it turns out that Brother Zhao is the 88th Hidden Dragon!” said the burly man, Wan Dongliu, with a smile. “I wonder where Brother Zhao is headed? There is no greater way of meeting than a chance encounter. Our main headquarters is just up ahead in Yangzhou. How about going to the city for a drink?”

“Please do wait a moment, Brother Wan, I’ve got some questions to ask,” Zhao Changhe dismounted the horse and grabbed the slim man. “What is this ‘Bloodthirsty Asura’ thing all about?”

Wan Dongliu: “...”

The slim man’s leg was broken and he was writhing in pain. It had been completely out of his expectations that Zhao Changhe would be so concerned about this matter and suddenly grab him. Grimacing from the pain, he said, “Aren’t you known for practicing the Vicious Blood Art and the Vicious Blood Saber Art? People say that when you start hacking at someone, your eyes turn red, and you also have a move that looks like you’re devouring your target. With your broad saber, you dismember the bodies of those who oppose you... If you’re not bloodthirsty, then who is?”

“...Let’s forget about the bloodthirsty part, alright? What in the world is the ‘Asura’ part about? It sounds so tacky,” Zhao Changhe remarked.

Wan Dongliu: “...”

Why are you so fixated on this? Do you hate the nickname that much?

The slim man, still in agony, broke into a cold sweat. “That’s just what those guys from the Maitreya Cult said. They say that the asura[1] is an ancient evil god, quick to anger, and incredibly aggressive...”

Zhao Changhe opened his mouth but then closed it again. For the second time in the last twenty seconds, he was speechless.

It’s really weird, why does it seem so fitting?

The slim man continued, “...There are both male and female asuras, and the male ones are said to be terribly ugly.”

Zhao Changhe grew furious and said, “The Maitreya Cult and I cannot live under the same sky!”

On the other hand, despite being enemies, the slim man and Wan Dongliu shared the same sentiment on this matter. They both found the name to be incredibly fitting for Zhao Changhe.

While names may not fit a person well, nicknames usually do...

In any case, neither of the two took the matter too seriously. Wan Dongliu chuckled and said, “Brother Zhao, it’s just a nickname. If you are unsatisfied with it, then feel free to come up with one yourself. To be honest, spreading nicknames and such is something that our Cao Gang excels at. Many famous martial artists, such as the Jade-Faced Divine Sword and the Little White Dragon, had their nicknames propagated by us. We’ve already named over a hundred Little White Dragons at this point.”

Zhao Changhe’s eyes lit up. “Does that really work?”

“Indeed,” Wan Dongliu smiled and said. “How about it, Brother Zhao? What would you like to be called?”

Zhao Changhe found himself at a loss. He had not really thought about such a thing. If he had known, he would have asked Tang Wanzhuang for help; she was more cultured than he was.

“Forget it. Since you said that you deal with this kind of matters, I’ll think it over slowly,” Zhao Changhe said as he remounted his horse. “Is Yangzhou just up ahead?”

“Yup,” Wan Dongliu picked up the slim man and smiled. “This man stole something important from our Cao Gang. It’s fortunate that you helped us catch him. I must take him back first to fulfill my mission. When you reach the city, just mention my name, Wan Dongliu, and you’ll be an esteemed guest wherever you go!”

After saying that, he respectfully cupped his hands toward Zhao Changhe before carrying the slim man away, treading on the surface of the river.

Damn it, why does it seem like everyone knows how to walk on water? Zhao Changhe felt that this ability to tread water was becoming less and less impressive.

When he used his own movement art, he could not actually walk on water. However, in his case, the issue was not actually with the Traceless Soaring Blood, but rather because his internal art could not keep up. His internal energy was not up to par, so his steps naturally became heavy.

Yet, these two seemingly random passersby had better internal energy than he did. He would’ve been in complete dismay, but thankfully, he at least knew who Wan Dongliu was.

This man was the junior leader of the Cao Gang. He was at the fifth layer of the Profound Gate and was ranked 77th on the Ranking of Hidden Dragons. In other words, he was ranked a little lower than Han Wubing and a little higher than Zhao Changhe. Judging from his movement art, his internal energy was clearly of a higher caliber than what a typical external martial artist would have.

It seems that heroes are still abundant in the jianghu. But isn’t that exactly what I wanted? Since fate has brought me here, I might as well take a detour and have a good look at the Cao Gang.

He had temporarily set aside the sadness he felt from the recent sights and experiences he had on the road. There was not much that he could do about those matters at the moment, anyway. Even if he did intend to do something about them in the future, he needed to fully understand the jianghu before making any actual decisions.

This river was not the main canal, but a small tributary. It was not very wide, which was why the two had been able to cross it earlier.

A narrower river often meant that there was a bridge somewhere. Zhao Changhe guided his horse along the riverbank for a while. As expected, he found a stone arch bridge not too far away, and he leisurely rode his horse across it.

So what if you can walk on water? Once I improve my skills, I’ll be able to do it too!

Not far ahead was Yangzhou, one of the most important cities in northern Jiangnan[2] It was a place with the same name and culture as in the real world, so Zhao Changhe didn’t feel at all weird using these place names.

As Zhao Changhe stepped through the city gates, he had a strange feeling that his destiny had brought him here. He had just talked with Han Wubing about his dream to roam the jianghu with a sword at his waist and a gourd of wine in hand, indulging in women with slender waists and delicate hands. Now, he found himself approaching Yangzhou[3].

Interestingly, while the area outside the city was desolate for miles, within the city was exactly the atmosphere Zhao Changhe had expected of the area. It was as if the city absorbed all the blood from the outside to nourish itself. This kind of prosperity had a touch of irony to it.

Yangzhou was bustling, much like Qinghe, but there was a significant difference in their cultures. Perhaps it was because of the Cui Clan’s emphasis on cultivating a moral legacy that the overall ambiance in Qinghe appeared stable and solemn, with the architectural tones leaning toward a grand and restrained style. In contrast, Yangzhou was filled with willows and flowers everywhere you looked.

As he rode his horse across a bridge into the city, Zhao Changhe paused to take in the scenery. There were many buildings that lined the riverbanks, and young women leaned over the balconies of their upper floors, eagerly waiting. When they saw him look toward them, they all waved their sleeves, inviting him in with laughter and playful gestures.

At that time, I was youthful and charming, my spring clothes fluttering with the wind. Atop a grand steed, I leaned against a small bridge, captivating the women in red buildings with my heroic and gallant demeanor.[4]

This place was much better than Sword Lake City in terms of quality and overall atmosphere. Zhao Changhe could not help but be overwhelmed with poetic inspiration. No wonder they say “With a fortune of ten thousand, ride a crane down to Yangzhou. This damn place really is a paradise for men.

I wonder where the Twenty-Four Bridge[5] is. Oh, it might not exist in this world...

“Young master, why don’t you stay at our Xiaoxiang Pavilion? Our young ladies are the most renowned in the city. You can also rest assured about leaving your fine horse with us. We have the best fodder and will take care of it most exquisitely...”

Zhao Changhe stopped staring at his surroundings and said with a smile, “In Jiangnan, what does ‘Xiaoxiang’[6] refer to?”

“Oh? It appears that you are a man of culture, young master! We just call it... Eh...” As Zhao Changhe turned his head, the madam’s expression changed, and her voice began to stutter. “That scar... B-Bloodthirsty Asura Zhao Changhe... ...”

Zhao Changhe’s smile vanished instantly.

“What’s the matter? Would my notorious reputation affect the decorum and security of your establishment?”

“N-No, not at all,” the madam hurriedly replied with a forced smile. “When someone as distinguished as yourself visits, we truly cannot be more delighted”

“Really?” Zhao Changhe dismounted. “In that case, I’ll be staying here.”

The madam secretly complained in her heart. She was not concerned about the decorum being affected, but she did worry about the security. If a dangerous man like Zhao Changhe were to cause trouble inside, the entire building might just end up being torn down. She collected herself and forced a smile, saying, “Young master, please come in. Our Xiaoxiang Pavilion pays respects to the Cao Gang, perhaps you have some connections with them?”

This was her way of hinting at her backing. Zhao Changhe chuckled and was about to respond when loud laughter came from a nearby street corner. “Hahaha, it seems like you also enjoy the flavors of Hunan, brother Zhao! Not bad, not bad! This Xiaoxiang Pavilion is actually run by our Cao Gang. Brother Zhao, feel free to enjoy yourself as much as you want. All expenses are on me!”

Oh, wow, so you do actually have connections with our Cao Gang... The madam’s expression immediately turned into one of awe and respect. She then turned to the person who had just arrived and greeted him with a smile. “Junior Gang Leader.”

Wan Dongliu strode over and patted Zhao Changhe on the shoulder enthusiastically. “Come on, let me treat you. I must let you experience Yangzhou’s hospitality!”

Why are you everywhere? Did you order your subordinates to report to you as soon as I arrived in the city? Did you also get them to report where I am? This level of enthusiasm is honestly a bit too much for me.

Zhao Changhe’s thoughts shifted. He intended to figure out what was going on with this person. With that in mind, he did not refuse, and he said with a smile, “Well then, I shall accept your kind offer, Brother Wan.”

1. An asura in Buddhism is a demigod of war that can be described as hot-tempered, stubborn, and reckless. ☜

2. In fact, Jiangnan (江南) refers to regions south (南) of the Yangtze River. ☜

3. The historical Yangzhou was known for its red-light district ☜

4. This seems to be an excerpt of “Barbarian Bodhisattva” by Wei Zhuang , a poet of the late Tang Dynasty. ☜

5. This is a real bridge in Yangzhou that is named so because it’ s 24m long and 2.4m wide, and it has 24 steps on either side. ☜

6. Xiaoxiang (潇湘) is a poetic name for Hunan Province, and more specifically refers to the Xiang River that runs across Hunan. ☜