Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 229: There Are No Good People in Sword Lake City

Upon entering the memorial hall, he saw women weeping with their heads lowered while they paid their respects to their departed clan head.

Zhao Changhe approached, offering his respects and burning incense. As he glanced around at the mourners, something felt off.

It was strange that there were not any children mourning together with the women. Furthermore, all of the women who were mourning seemed to be in their twenties to fifties. They looked to be either widows or concubines. There were no elderly or children, nor any other relatives such as uncles or brothers. It did not resemble a typical gathering at all.

Furthermore, the constant weeping seemed especially strange. While it was indeed common for relatives to weep at a memorial, they would typically stop after a few days, with only a few individuals still showing grief. However, these people should have been mourning for several days now, yet their tears had not ceased.

Inadvertently, Zhao Changhe thought about how if time continued to pass in the modern world as it did in this world he had transmigrated to, then he should have been “missing” in the modern world for almost a year by now. He wondered how his parents had reacted to his disappearance and how they were now... Smearing the golden foil was nothing compared to the heartache his parents must be feeling. If he could beat that blind woman, he would be damn well happy to kill her.

Wait... Killing that witch...

Zhao Changhe froze in place.

He had long forgotten about his “main quest” when he had first entered this world. Initially, he had thought that he could return home once he killed that witch. After that blind woman entered his dream, she mentioned two ways that he could return: one was to fulfill this “grand wish,” while the other was to train until he could break through the barriers of time and space.

He had no idea who the witch was, having only seen her back figure in his dreams. He sometimes wondered if Chichi, Sisi, or even Vermillion Bird could be that same witch he had encountered when he had started having nightmares. It was due to this that he eventually came to stop exploring who that witch truly was, fearing what trouble it might bring.

Yet now, he suddenly remembered the three cards that were shown to him when he had transmigrated. The first card depicted the Back Eye. The second card depicted a round jade pendant with a dragon carved into it, hinting at his entanglement with Chichi that eventually came to burden him with the identity of a prince.

The third card was supposed to be a clue to the witch’s identity... But as a clue, how was it considered to “belong to him”?

So far, the only way I could think of it manifesting is—

The awakening and unsealing of the Heavenly Tome.

Is it really this thing that I smear every now and then? Maybe the third card has already taken effect long ago and I just haven’t realized it...

But if that is indeed the case, then there’s a glaring issue. Those three cards were given to me by the blind woman. If she’s the spirit of the tome, then did she give herself to me?

Does this mean that she isn’t the spirit of the tome?

The logic was a bit confusing at the moment, and he could not quite figure it all out. However, he had never thought about these things before. The unexpected homesickness he was struck with had triggered some valuable insights, and he resolved himself to consider these things more in the future...

Zhao Changhe gathered his thoughts, realizing that the people from the Ji Clan had been staring at him blankly for quite some time. With his current persona of a sallow-faced man who claimed to be from the Divine Brilliance sect, he had just been silently staring at the coffin since he arrived, giving off an eerie vibe.

“Ahem,” Zhao Changhe finally spoke up. “Junior Brother Ji asked me to investigate the situation. How did Uncle Ji die?”

The woman who had earlier asked him to seek justice on their behalf choked out between sobs, “Originally, my husband invited Han Wubing to discuss matters over a banquet. But for some reason, Han Wubing suddenly attacked my husband during the banquet, catching him off guard and killing him on the spot. Fortunately, President Yan of the Pinghu Association happened to be dining nearby and rushed in upon hearing the commotion...”

Fortunately, eh... What suspicious word choice.

Zhao Changhe gave her a deep look but did not say anything.

But with that being the case, why still ask someone else to administer justice for you? Can’t you just ask Yan Lianping to handle everything?

An old man who looked like a steward could not hold back and said, “The gang leader was indeed killed by Han Wubing. If you, our young master’s senior brother, could help us apprehend the murderer, we would be immensely grateful. However, we most urgently require your assistance with regard to preserving the Ji Clan’s assets.”

Zhao Changhe became more attentive, “What do you mean?”

“Currently, the Xingyi Gang is leaderless and scattered, and many high-ranking members have been absorbed by the Pinghu Association. Most of the gang’s assets have also been annexed by the Pinghu Association, which we have reluctantly accepted. However, some of the assets they wish to acquire are personally owned by our master, so how can we just let those be taken as well? Right now, we have some of our people stationed to guard our assets on Taiping Street. But how long can we really hold out? Yan Lianping is currently consolidating all of the assets under him, and if we wait a few more days, I’m afraid we would have nothing left...”

Zhao Changhe nodded and said, “Then take me to Taiping Street.”

The steward was overjoyed. “May I ask for your esteemed name?”

Zhao Changhe patted the wine gourd. “Situ Xiao.”

When they heard him say that, they all fell silent. Even the mistress of the Ji Clan, who had been speaking with him earlier, had her eyes open wide in shock.

Situ Xiao personally coming to visit had an entirely different meaning than if it were some ordinary disciple of the Divine Brilliance Sect!

Wait, doesn’t Situ Xiao use a heavy sword? Could this saber... be a fake?

Zhao Changhe silently apologized to Situ Xiao and observed the expressions of the people around coldly, feeling increasingly certain about certain things.

He deliberately said Situ Xiao’s name to stir up the muddy waters. It was only by way of provocation that the dirt below could be exposed.

From how things seem, I’m afraid there are no good people left in Hongtong County... No one here seems genuinely saddened by Ji Yinan’s death. Otherwise, upon hearing me say Situ Xiao’s name, their reaction should not have been shock, but rather jubilation. Even this steward doesn’t seem to be genuinely trying to preserve the Ji Clan’s assets. It looks like he’s just trying to make some gains himself by using the power of my supposed identity as their young master’s senior brother.

The steward hesitated and tentatively said, “Sir, it’s not that we doubt you, but Mister Situ isn’t generally known to wear such clothing...”

Zhao Changhe suddenly pushed his palm forward, and a gust of wind blew as thunder boomed. This move caused the white banners in the memorial hall to flutter and the candle flames to flicker.

“The Divine Brilliance Sect’s Wind and Lightning Palm!” The steward dared not take this strike and swiftly retreated while waving his hands and saying, “Mister Situ, please calm down, please...”

Zhao Changhe said coldly, “My junior brother’s father was killed, and all you care about are your assets. Just because you say that it was Han Wubing that killed him, does that actually mean that it was him that did it? I want to see your clan head’s body.”

The crowd looked at each other in confusion.

Zhao Changhe adopted Situ Xiao’s demeanor to the fullest and spat out, “What? Could it be that you had plotted for wealth and committed murder...”

Before he could finish speaking, the mistress hurriedly interjected, “Mister Situ, if you wish to examine the body, then we are naturally willing to let you do so and even assist you... Someone open the coffin!”

The coffin lid was removed, and Zhao Changhe, holding his nose, stepped forward to carefully inspect the fatal wound on the corpse’s chest.

Unlike last time, when he had gone to examine a corpse for vicious qi, the corpse he was examining this time was not rotten but still intact. Han Wubing’s sword was slightly thinner than what the average person would use, and to a professional, this wound was easy to assess—indeed, it seemed to have come from a thin sword, which in turn made it seem likely that it was Han Wubing’s doing.

However, Zhao Changhe inwardly sneered.

This was because while Han Wubing had been known to use a thin sword, that sword had broken during their adventures, and he had later found a new sword in the sword chamber. Zhao Changhe had naturally seen that sword, and it was an ordinarily-proportioned sword. In other words, the sword that Han Wubing was currently using was not thinner than the average sword.

He could then easily conclude that this person had not been killed by Han Wubing.

Of course, it would not have mattered to him whether Han Wubing killed the person or not. Even if he had indeed killed this man, it would not have been a big deal. Zhao Changhe had not come here to solve who the murderer was, but to understand the strength of the killer.

Suppressing his nausea from the foul smell being emitted by the corpse, he reached out and lightly touched the wound, sensing the lingering aura inside and getting the Heavenly Tome to analyze it.

After a while, he pulled his hand back, closed the coffin, and said lightly, “Indeed, this was Han Wubing’s doing. Miss, please accept my condolences...”

The woman bowed. “Sir, please help us.”

Zhao Changhe nodded and said to the steward, “Take me to the properties you mentioned earlier.”

The steward nodded and bowed. “Of course, please follow me, Mister Situ.”

Taiping Street was actually where the Ji Clan’s residence was located. The steward accompanied Zhao Changhe to inspect a few stores and restaurants there, then said with a smile, “The master fully devoted himself to the gang, and he did not have many properties under his name, only these few stores here. If even these are taken away as well, then I fear that he may not be able to rest in peace...”

Zhao Changhe’s eyes fell on a leather and sheepskin store. “Does the Xingyi Gang mainly deal with sheepskin and such products? Well... I can see that there’s also cheese, kumis[1]...”

The steward said, “They are all top-quality products from the north, but you can rest assured that they have nothing to do with the northern barbarians.”

“Alright, I understand. Tomorrow, I will talk to Yan Lianping. The things that rightfully belong to my junior brother must not fall into the hands of others.”

“If someone like you intervenes, Yan Lianping will surely give you face!” The steward nodded and bowed. “The guest house has been cleaned. You may stay there if you wish.”

Zhao Changhe shook his head. “I have already found a place to stay. I’ll come to find you tomorrow morning”

The steward did not dare insist and simply smiled as he watched Zhao Changhe leave.

Zhao Changhe had silently activated his Back Eye much earlier so that he could better observe his surroundings. Suddenly, he used his movement arts to shuttle through the streets and alleys, disappearing in an instant.

Some people chased after him to a street corner, but they had lost track of him. They looked at each other in surprise and asked, “How did he disappear in the blink of an eye?”

“That’s Situ Xiao. What’s strange about us not being able to keep up with him? Quick, we need to go and tell the association president...”

“Damn, why does this city seem to be getting weirder and weirder? All sorts of bigshots seem to be showing up here.”

Zhao Changhe emerged from the shadows.

The servants of the Ji Clan had all gone to report to the “association president.”

Only then did he really start his movement art and disappear into the darkness.

He silently returned to his private courtyard in the inn. When he arrived, he saw that candles were lit inside, and a person wearing a pig mask was resting their head on their hand, looking like they had been waiting for him for quite a while.

Zhao Changhe pushed the door open and said with a smile, “So, did you find any clues on your end?”

Vermillion Bird said lazily, “It’s hard to say. At the very least, I know that Han Wubing has not been caught by the Pinghu Association. I overheard their private conversations and they all said that they had not caught Han Wubing, and they had no reason to be lying. As for what they said to me directly, I’m not sure if it’s true or not. Could you help me analyze it?”

“Oh? There’s actually something that’s leaving you stumped?”

“Yes, they told me that He Lei stayed in the Ji Clan. So, either Yan Lianping lied, or Wei Zicai lied. Whoever lied is a traitor to their own faction, while the other side isn’t a traitor, right?”

“From the way you’re saying it, it seems like you’re hoping that Yan Lianping isn’t a traitor, and the problem actually lies with Wei Zicai?”

“Of course, why would I want for there to be a traitor in the Twenty-Eight Mansions?”

“But unfortunately, both of them are lying,” Zhao Changhe said seriously. “Tomorrow, I will negotiate with Yan Lianping under Situ Xiao’s name. He might let you sit in. Whatever happens, you must be on guard against Yan Lianping. In fact, it would be best to launch a sneak attack on him when given the opportunity. I suspect he’s not just at the eighth layer of the Profound Gate. He might already be at the level of those on the Ranking of Man, so we must not be careless with him.”

Vermillion Bird was taken aback momentarily, and her expression underneath the mask turned ugly.

If what Zhao Changhe said is true, then based on how I’ve let on that the Fire Serpent of Yi is only at the ninth layer of the Profound Gate, if something were to happen, then I really might end up owing him a greater favor...

But how is he able to make the judgment that Yan Lianping is on the level of those on the Ranking of Man? Even if he got to examine Ji Yinan’s corpse, he should not have been able to determine something like that, right?

1. A fermented dairy product of Central Asia, traditionally made from mare milk or donkey milk. This product can easily be associated with Mongols, Kazakhs, and other inhabitants of the steppes. ☜