Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 436: Di Muzhi

“Ah, it’s brother Xie.” Zhao Changhe remained calm, projecting the reserved demeanor that Wang Daozhong was supposed to have, and replied indifferently, “I’ve grown tired of the Central Plains and wanted to explore a bit.”

Although Zhao Changhe had used his qi to slightly alter his voice, it was not perfect—after all, he had not really practiced enough to sound exactly like Wang Daozhong.

Fortunately, Xie Ruhai was not that familiar with Wang Daozhong, having only met him a few times in the past. He was not able to discern the slight difference in his voice. Not that there was any risk in this endeavor—if Xie Ruhai had been a real acquaintance, he would have noticed the discrepancies in appearance before greeting “Wang Daozhong.” The fact that he hadn’t suggested that they were not that familiar.

Hearing Zhao Changhe’s words, Xie Ruhai inwardly found it amusing. Rumor had it that Wang Daozhong had been caught not long ago, but it seemed he had been released through some... maneuvering. Naturally, it would not make sense for him to stay under the watchful eyes of the Yang Clan and the Demon Suppression Bureau, so he would either have to remain secluded in Langya or be “banished” far away.

Now it seemed Wang Daozhong had indeed traveled to the southwest.

With a smile, Xie Ruhai said, “Mister Daozhong, since you’ve come such a long way, why not pay Prefectural Governor Di a visit? We could offer you some local hospitality.”

Zhao Changhe thought to himself, “Who knows how familiar Di Mu is with Wang Daozhong? Only a fool would go there.”

He had no intention of getting sidetracked, so he shook his head and replied, “I have business in Miaojiang and I don’t want to be delayed...”

Initially, Zhao Changhe had intended to exchange some polite pleasantries, but mid-sentence, he realized it was pointless.

Why am I being polite on Wang Daozhong’s behalf? Wouldn’t it be better to offend more people?

So, with an air of arrogance, he added, “Besides, Di Muzhi isn’t important enough for me to go out of my way to meet him.”

Next to him, Li Sian looked like he could not bear to watch, silently mourning for Wang Daozhong.

Wherever Zhao Changhe goes, his reputation as a noble and righteous man grows, while Wang Daozhong’s name gets dragged through the mud, becoming an enemy to both righteous and demonic factions. What kind of karma is this?

But Xie Ruhai took it in stride, as he was used to the arrogance of top-tier nobles. Let alone Wang Daozhong, who had made it onto the Ranking of Earth, any random scion of a prestigious family could display even more arrogance. Unbothered, Xie Ruhai gave a small chuckle and replied, “Then I won’t interrupt Mister Daozhong’s meal any further.”

With that, he cupped his hands and left.

Zhao Changhe glanced at the restaurant beside him and said with a grimace, “Looks like we won’t be able to have our meal here.”

Li Sian chuckled. “Why do you say that?”

“If that Xie Ruhai reports to Di Muzhi that Wang Daozhong is dining here, and Di Muzhi decides to come meet him, won’t my cover be blown?”

Li Sian laughed, “If our information is correct, Di Muzhi has never even met Wang Daozhong. It’s a big world, and many people have heard each other’s names but never met in person. Not everyone travels the world like you.”

“Huh? Aren’t they both around the same age, from aristocratic families, and both officials? Didn’t they mingle when they were younger?”

“Not everyone has met each other, especially when Di Muzhi is from an isolated place like Shu. There’s less socializing here. Of course, our information may not be complete. It’s possible that they have a personal connection that we’re unaware of,” Li Sian said. “Do you want to meet him? If you’re looking to investigate the Sword Hut’s disappearance, asking Di Muzhi might provide some clues.”

Zhao Changhe thought for a moment and nodded.

The Sword Hut’s matter was too closely tied to Yue Hongling, so any chance to investigate it was worth trying. At worst, he could just claim he was deceived and push the responsibility to Li Sian.

The two entered the restaurant and casually ordered some food and drinks. They had not gotten to eat much before there was a stir at the entrance, followed by hearty laughter. “Brother Wang, you’ve come such a long way. Why didn’t you let me know? I would’ve welcomed you properly. There’s no need to be so distant with one another.”

Zhao Changhe keenly noticed that all the diners in the restaurant had turned pale. Not a single person remained seated; they all stood up and retreated to the sides. Even the restaurant owner was trembling so much that his legs were shaking uncontrollably.

Hm? This doesn’t seem like the usual respect that’s supposed to be shown toward officials. It feels more like a deep-seated fear.

Even Li Sian stood up and bowed. “Greetings, governor.”

Di Muzhi politely nodded to Li Sian. “Please be seated, fourth lord.”

He then sat next to Zhao Changhe, smiling warmly. “Brother Wang, do you really find a place like this suitable?”

Zhao Changhe glanced at him.

Though Di Muzhi appeared refined and scholarly, with neatly combed hair and a distinguished, handsome face, there was an unmistakable coldness about him, especially when seen in this context.

Zhao Changhe leisurely continued eating, not even bothering to look up. “I’m just passing through, and I’ll be leaving soon. When traveling, who cares about such things? As the governor, you must be busy with many things, and I see no need to trouble you.”

Di Muzhi acted as though he had not heard of what Zhao Changhe had said earlier about him not being important enough for him to go out of his way to meet. He laughed heartily and said, “If Brother Wang is here, no business could be more important. Serve the dishes!”

At his command, a stream of servants entered, carrying in a stream of exquisite dishes.

Zhao Changhe was seated at an ordinary small square table, which filled quickly with just a few dishes. The remaining servants stood by, holding the rest, not daring to move an inch.

The dishes were extravagant, likely made from rare delicacies gathered from who knows how many exotic animals. Zhao Changhe could not help but recall the desolation he had seen along the way.

The stark contrast between the extravagant lives of the aristocrats and the harsh realities faced by the commoners surfaced in his mind.

In truth, aristocratic families like the Cui, Wang, Yang, and Tang Clans were not much different. They just did not flaunt it as obviously. Wang Zhaoling’s banquet for the hidden dragons had fine dishes, but it simply felt like the wealth of a powerful family. Perhaps the Wang Clan had moved past the point of seeming like mere upstarts.

But deep down, there probably was not much of a difference. Di Muzhi’s attitude toward Wang Daozhong made that clear—they were cut from the same cloth.

The likes of Fa Chi and others joining Maitreya in rebellion was not entirely because they were deceived. There were genuine causes for revolt, and there were real figures of influence in the Maitreya Cult. Even bandits and rebels across the land were not necessarily criminals at heart. When Xue Canghai established his stronghold in Wushan, his followers were like an army, sharpening their blades, waiting for an opportunity.

How many others like Fa Chi and Xue Canghai existed across the land?

This was why, though Zhao Changhe respected Tang Wanzhuang’s loyalty to the empire and her desire to bring stability, deep down, he agreed more with Vermillion Bird and Chichi’s belief in the righteousness of rebellion. He hoped Tang Wanzhuang would eventually lay down her arms and retreat from the battlefield. He had never hidden this from her. Perhaps this was why Tang Wanzhuang had never fully given herself to him, why she had fled so quickly once his injuries had nearly healed. Perhaps that was the real reason behind it all.

Oh, I should have thought of that earlier. That must be the main reason...

These thoughts flashed through Zhao Changhe’s mind, but outwardly, he maintained the facade of an experienced, composed figure. He said calmly, “Brother Di, you’re making things difficult for me...”

Di Muzhi chuckled, “Oh? Could it be that Brother Wang finds my hospitality lacking?”

Zhao Changhe shook his head, “If I get too used to your fine treatment, how will I bear the hardships of heading into Miaojiang afterward? What if I become spoiled?”

Di Muzhi clapped his hands and laughed, “You’re worrying too much. A person like you? You won’t face hardships no matter where you go.”

“Oh?” Zhao Changhe said, “Brother Di, you must be quite familiar with Miaojiang. I heard that the local Pacification Commission is under your authority?”

“Well, it’s not directly under me.” Di Muzhi smiled. “But if you’re heading there, I can still lend a hand.”

Zhao Changhe deliberately asked, “I’ve caused a bit of a stir in Hongnong recently. Are you not worried about getting dragged into trouble?”

He was hinting at the Wang Clan’s clear intentions of rebellion. Given that, why was Di Muzhi still acting so friendly? What were his true intentions?

Di Mu acted as though he did not quite understand, laughing as he replied, “Who doesn’t have a bit of dirt on them? Perhaps one day, you can make amends with the Yang Clan, and this whole matter will blow over. The Wang Clan of Langya is as solid as iron; who could truly stand against you?”

Zhao Changhe smiled slightly, raising his cup, “Then I’ll have to rely on you to help smooth things over.”

“That’s easy enough,” Di Muzhi clinked his cup against Zhao Changhe’s and then asked, “What brings you to Miaojiang, Brother Wang? Is there anything I can assist with?”

“I’m just hoping to get to know the local chieftains, maybe expand some business for the family. If you could help introduce me to them, that would be highly appreciated.”

“Of course.” Di Mu handed over a waist token. “Take this to the Pacification Commission in the southwest. They’ll show you some respect.”

Zhao Changhe accepted the token with a smile. “I’ll remember this favor, brother Di. When you come to Langya in the future, I’ll make sure to host you with the best hospitality I can offer.”

Li Sian nearly choked on his drink.

Just then, Zhao Changhe smoothly changed the subject, as if making casual conversation, “By the way, I passed by Bashan on the way here, intending to visit Shi Wuding, but found the Sword Hut empty. What’s going on there?”

“We’re still looking into that. The Sword Hut vanished without a trace, much to the shock of all Bashu. No one knows what happened.” Di Muzhi smiled. “But honestly, it’s not that unusual. If they found some superior location to relocate their sect, it would make sense for them to move. Once the Sword Hut disciples reappear in the jianghu in a few days, the truth will come out. It’s not something worth spending too much energy on.”

Zhao Changhe seemed thoughtful.

The Sword Hut was not a small sect. If they were truly moving their entire sect, there would have been a noticeable commotion. A force as strong as the Sword Hut would not have moved quietly. As the governor of Shu, Di Muzhi would have definitely caught wind of it. Moreover, many of the prominent families and officials in the region were connected to the Sword Hut as unregistered disciples. Could they really be indifferent to such a significant shift?

Di Muzhi’s explanation was clearly a cover for the Sword Hut.

It was quite possible that the Sword Hut’s disappearance had been aided by the authorities, which might explain why even the Demon Suppression Bureau had received the news so late.

If that was the case, the move might indeed have nothing to do with Yue Hongling... quite the opposite, in fact. Yue Hongling might have stumbled upon something strange during their relocation, prompting an attempt to silence her, and thus the fight broke out.

Could it be that they’re not tied to the Snow-Listening Pavilion after all?

Things are getting complicated...