Chapter 689: The Return of King Zhao

“Just a single sentence from you and he doesn’t even want to drink anymore.”

Watching Xue Canghai eagerly make his way to the Blood God Cult’s camp, Wan Dongliu sighed. “Wouldn’t this count as manipulating people’s minds?”

Zhao Changhe plopped down in the seat Xue Canghai had just vacated, took a swig of the wine, and exhaled contentedly. “You’re overthinking it. Why not just assume that Old Xue isn’t interested in drinking with you since you aren’t that close? I mean, you’re from entirely different generations, so it wouldn’t be strange if he doesn’t feel like drinking with you.”

Wan Dongliu replied, “I didn’t feel anything like that. Moreover, he got beaten by Yue Hongling, and I got beaten by you. In terms of hierarchy, we’re pretty much on equal footing.”

“Pfft...” Zhao Changhe almost spat out his wine.

So the two of you were bonding over your shared experiences of getting beaten up?

Wan Dongliu remained expressionless. “If he doesn’t feel close to me, then why was he sitting here talking nonsense with me just now?”

“He was just waiting for me.” Zhao Changhe chuckled faintly. “Isn’t it the same with you? Otherwise, how could the two of you end up drinking in the Wang Clan’s estate? You both have subordinates to manage. If you were drinking for leisure, it’d be with them, not each other.”

Wan Dongliu finally smiled. “True. At our core, he and I are both gang leaders. This place doesn’t really suit us. For people like us, our own brothers take priority, whether it’s for work or for drinks.”

“Old Xue is uneasy because he’s worried I might stand on the side of the imperial court and oppose a bloodthirsty demonic cult like his. That’s why he sought me out. All I had to do was tell him that there are plenty of places that need killing. If he shifts his focus from the

jianghu

to the battles of the empire, he can kill to his heart’s content—not only will no one see him as a villain, he’ll be celebrated as a hero.”

“Mm-hm.”

𝒇𝒓𝙚𝒆𝔀𝓮𝓫𝒏𝓸𝙫𝓮𝓵.𝓬𝙤𝙢

“And you? Why did you come to me? What are you worried about?”

“Though I’m a member of the Four Idols Cult, I’m also the young gang leader of the Cao Gang. Was it your idea to replace canal trade in favor of maritime trade?”

“It was.”

“The venerable pushed for it to force my father into rebelling. I want to know, though, is it just a temporary move or will it continue to be implemented?” Wan Dongliu asked earnestly. “You can tell me the truth, even if canal trade is destined to end.”

“Opening maritime trade doesn’t mean having to abandon canal trade,” Zhao Changhe explained. “If anything, it’s the opposite. From what I’ve seen overseas, as trade expands, transportation in the canal will actually become busier. There’ll simply be more goods for you to move around.”

Wan Dongliu blinked in surprise. “Really?”

“The Wang Clan is at the forefront of maritime expansion. Instead of sitting around drinking, why not go to the coast and see for yourself? I just came back from there—the chaos from the battle at Langya hasn’t slowed things down at all. It’s still quite bustling over there.”

“Alright.”

“You used to be quite close to Buqi. Even though things got tense for a while, now that the tension is gone, you should reconnect with him. You might discover new possibilities if you do,” Zhao Changhe said. “Many conflicts come from a scarcity of resources, including land. But the world is vast. Of course, many things still depend on technological advancements and productivity... uh...”

It seemed he had spoken too much... Wan Dongliu remained silent, his expression unreadable. It was unclear how much of Zhao Changhe’s words he had truly taken in.

Zhao Changhe took a sip of wine, using it to mask his forward-thinking comments, then suddenly asked, “So, does the Cao Gang still only wish to remain a profit-driven gang of the

jianghu

? Do you have no intention of involving yourselves in regional governance, even now that your influence has grown? Would you like things to go back to how they were?”

“Yes,” Wan Dongliu replied calmly. “Not only do we lack the ambition for such things, but

you

wouldn’t want it either. After all the effort you’ve put into suppressing the aristocratic families, the last thing you’d want is for another Wan Clan to rise in their place. It’s one thing for a

jianghu

gang to grow in power, but it’s another matter entirely if they hold regional authority.”

He paused, then suddenly chuckled. “Those of the

jianghu

belong to the

jianghu

. I prefer it that way, and I believe you do too. When you come to Yangzhou again, I’ll treat you to a drink at the Xiaoxiang Pavilion... though, as you know, Ruyan is married now.”

Zhao Changhe smiled as well. “Back then, I used to complain that this

jianghu

wasn’t what I wanted. But looking back now, I find myself longing for those simpler days. Moving from the

jianghu

to the matters of the state, from humanity to gods and demons, the weight of it all feels suffocating.”

“The burden falls upon the capable,” Wan Dongliu said, raising his cup in a toast. “In the past, Xia Longyuan bore it all... and now, you have taken his place. Here’s to your swift unification of the land! Just don’t end up retreating to a secret realm to cultivate in seclusion. You know how that ends.”

Zhao Changhe raised his cup as well, gazing into the wine’s rippling surface. A thought struck him.

Was the delay in taking on the emperor’s mantle partly to grant myself freedom? I mean, that throne truly is just a prison for a dragon.

As this realization settled, Zhao Changhe suddenly understood what he needed to do.

Previously, he had been pondering his next move. Should he lead his forces to Guanzhong or head north to Yanmen? But now it became clear—neither was necessary. Those were tasks best left to others.

Just as he had not been directly involved in the battles of Langya and the capital, professional matters were best handled by those specialized in them. His role lay elsewhere. Specifically, in Kunlun and Bashu.

He needed to find out what Yuxu and Li Shentong were truly planning.

As these thoughts settled, Cui Yuanyong suddenly entered in haste. Seeing Zhao Changhe and Wan Dongliu enjoying a private drinking session, he paused in surprise. “You’ve already come out from the secret realm, but instead of attending the victory banquet, you’re hiding here? And brother Wan, why are you here too?”

Zhao Changhe replied, “Those banquets have too many rules and are too much of a hassle. I’d much rather have a couple of drinks in private.”

Cui Yuanyong chuckled dryly. “You’re the king. The rules are yours to set. If anything, you should be annoyed by the wave of insincere flattery you’ll have to endure.”

“Exactly.” Zhao Changhe glanced at Cui Yuanyong. “Anyway, you seem to be in a rush. Is there new information?”

Cui Yuanyong nodded and said, “Father sent a message via carrier pigeon. The Yang Clan has expressed their willingness to retire from the political stage. Father believes Yangyang should visit the Yang Clan.”

Inside, Cui Yuanyang was immersed in comprehending the sea-suppressing intent from the Heavenly Tome. She had been gaining significant insights when her brother’s words snapped her out of her reverie, leaving her momentarily stunned. Zhao Changhe, too, had considered sending her to visit the Yang and Li clans’ territories. It seemed her father shared the same sentiment. A thought surfaced in her mind. Perhaps her success in negotiating with the Yang Clan over the Lianshan Sword was not solely due to her experience with Qinghe. Perhaps it was the inescapable pull of karmic ties from a past life.

Zhao Changhe interjected, “Are you sure this is reliable? You’re just going to send Yangyang? What if—”

Cui Yuanyong chuckled wryly. “Given the current situation, unless the Yang Clan has a death wish, they wouldn’t dare pull anything. Besides, Yangyang isn’t a critical figure. Even if they schemed to lure her there, what would they gain? They’d only provoke us beyond reconciliation. Yang Jingxiu isn’t an idiot.”

Feeling slighted by being labeled “not critical,” Cui Yuanyang poked her head out and retorted, “Maybe my visit is the very reason they won’t risk execution! Let me show you what it means to be a key figure!”

Cui Yuanyong could not help but laugh. “Yes, yes, you’re absolutely a key figure.”

And in truth, was she not? If he had not taken her with him to Beimang back then, the Cui Clan might have ended up just like the Yang Clan, contemplating a life of seclusion.

Cui Yuanyang hesitated, glancing at Zhao Changhe. Earlier, his tone suggested he was planning to head toward Guanzhong and even mentioned traveling together. If she went to the Yang Clan now, would that not mean their paths would diverge? Zhao Changhe already had his hands full; he probably would not have time to visit the Yang Clan, who had already surrendered.

Zhao Changhe spoke up, “Yangyang can head to the Yang family first. I’ll make a quick trip back to the capital to assess the latest battle reports, especially regarding Batu. I’m still waiting for any updates from that front. We’re not in a position to act on Guanzhong just yet. If things are stable with Batu, I’ll need to visit Kunlun first.”

Cui Yuanyang was taken aback. “Why Kunlun? Are you trying to coordinate a pincer attack on Guanzhong?”

“I want to ask Yuxu whether his so-called plan to sever the dragon veins of the world is just empty talk.”

* * *

Later that night, Zhao Changhe flew awkwardly to the capital.

Snow-Treading Crow followed alongside him, turning its head in utter confusion as it observed its master.

It had never seen anyone who owned a perfectly good horse but insisted on flying alongside it—awkwardly, no less. The flight was clumsy, exhausting, and slow. It left the horse wondering what exactly Zhao Changhe hoped to achieve.

What truly surprised Snow-Treading Crow was that its master actually managed to fly the entire way without falling once.

Of course, the effort had clearly taken a toll on Zhao Changhe. By the time he reached the capital, his face was pale, his lips were nearly bloodless, and he looked on the verge of collapse. If some god or demon decided to ambush him right now, the fool would be finished.

Luckily, the biased announcements of the Tome of Troubled Times still carried significant weight in the short term. Zhao Changhe’s reputation alone deterred anyone from seeking trouble, and he arrived safely at the brightly lit capital. The city was under strict martial law, with guards combing the streets.

From time to time, he would even see someone be dragged off into the Demon Suppression Bureau.

After a moment of hesitation, Zhao Changhe decided to head to the imperial palace first.

As he led his horse into the skies above the palace walls, the stars suddenly blazed brilliantly, and radiant beams of energy descended on him with terrifying force.

Zhao Changhe: “...”

When did they set up a defensive array like this? This is getting ridiculous.

He drew River of Stars, and the sword intercepted the oncoming celestial barrage. For a moment, it felt as though the stars themselves paused in confusion before the overwhelming power of the Night Emperor’s Sword. Slowly, the destructive energy dissipated.

Poor King Zhao, returning victorious to the capital, had nearly been obliterated by the capital’s own defenses. It had taken the power of the Night Emperor’s Sword to suppress what turned out to be the Night Emperor’s array.

Guards rushed in from all directions. Recognizing Zhao Changhe, they hurriedly saluted. “Your Highness!”

Zhao Changhe waved them off. “When was this array set up?”

“It was set up a few days ago, specifically to defend against aerial attacks and prevent ambushes by gods or demons. The ground doesn’t have such protection,” one of the guards, a seasoned member of the Four Idols Cult, explained in detail. “Before Yeletu’s army approached yesterday, Her Majesty was already concerned about the possibility of an attack from the sky. But in the end, the enemy didn’t come from above.”

Zhao Changhe nodded. Xia Chichi’s foresight was impressive. The barbarians and the Li Clan had gravely underestimated the young empress. Even Zhao Changhe himself, when planning strategies through correspondence with her, had assumed the most likely scenario would be a siege by the main army. Yet, the enemy had audaciously charged straight into the city with a cavalry force as if courting death.

Turning toward the main hall, Zhao Changhe saw Xia Chichi standing at the entrance, resplendent in her imperial dragon robes. Her delight at his sudden arrival was evident. “You... you’re back?”

Zhao Changhe replied, “I was worried about a lot of things. Come, let’s go inside and talk.”

“Inside...” Xia Chichi bit her lip. “King Zhao, on your own, you pacified Qinghe, drove back gods and demons, subdued Langya with a single arrow, and secured victory in the capital from a thousand li away. Indeed, such monumental contributions truly deserve a reward.”

The guards and maids nearby instinctively averted their gazes.

Her tone was dripping with implication—it was hard for them not to imagine their empress and King Zhao retiring to more personal and intimate matters. Her words were simply too suggestive.

But no one could deny that Zhao Changhe’s accomplishments were indeed things of legend. Even now, people struggled to grasp how he had left the capital without an army, circled back, and changed the very landscape of the whole world.