Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 257: Huangsha Market

After pondering for a long time, Zhao Changhe decided to head to Huangsha Market.

If this merchant caravan had just left the tribe he was planning on going to, then there was a possibility of gathering information about the missing team from them anyway. Furthermore, it was more likely for him to be able to obtain useful information from them than from a heavily guarded tribal settlement.

Based on what Cui Yuanyong had told him, as well as from what he could infer from the conversation that these people had, Huangsha Market was likely to be the central trading hub for various tribes. If there was any place that could be considered a central hub in the Grasslands, then this would probably be it.

Zhao Changhe felt that his luck was quite strange. In any case, since he had already veered north, he might as well continue north. His intuition told him that it was for the best.

As for these people... Zhao Changhe looked at them with cold eyes, secretly thinking that even if he could not accomplish anything else this time, killing these people would still be a significant achievement. Or perhaps he could gather evidence and submit it to Tang Wanzhuang? However, he was unsure as to what actions she would even be able to take.

After thinking for a while, he applied some makeup to cover his scar and turned into an average-looking man again.

He then glanced at his horse. During the days he had spent riding to Yanmen Pass, he had not been properly grooming his horse. Because of that, its once-glossy black coat now looked a dusty gray, and its socks were so covered in dust that they could no longer be considered white.

He intentionally waited a bit longer, waiting for the caravan to get a bit further away, before he set off toward Huangsha Market.

He was alone, while the caravan consisted of over a thousand people. It was better to avoid recklessly trying to blend in with them. If they caught on to him and immediately regarded him as an enemy, he might not even know how he ended up dead. It was safer to simply head straight to Huangsha Market. Zhao Changhe did not believe that the Demon Suppression Bureau would not have someone responsible for sending intelligence to Huangfu Yongxian.

*

The Huangsha Market lay further northwest, a considerable distance away. It was only after two full days of riding alone that Zhao Changhe finally caught a distant glimpse of it. He felt like he had likely overtaken the merchant caravan quite a while back.

The past two days had been quite torturous. Apart from the encounter he had with the merchant caravan that one night, he had not seen a single soul, not even a dog. It was all an endless sea of grass as far as the eye could see, making him feel as though he was sailing alone in a green ocean. While he was initially awed at the vastness, it soon became lonely and oppressive, driving him to the brink of madness and causing him to just want to shout again and again.

As he journeyed, the scenery began to change slightly. The grass turned from a dull green to a withered yellow, and the grass also became increasingly sparse as more and more sand replaced it. The increasing desolation only made the situation more unbearable. Even Snow-Treading Crow, due to the decreasing amount of food, became temperamental and irritable.

It was evident that Cui Yuanyong had a keen understanding of him. Although he did seem like the lone traveler type, he truly was not accustomed to solitude. Being alone in the Grasslands without anyone to converse with was extremely distressing for him, unlike individuals such as Yue Hongling and Han Wubing, who had no problem with solitude.

They belonged to the type of people who did not need anyone to interact with and could live well on their own. However, Zhao Changhe was different. Just the sight of human habitation in the distance moved him to tears.

This place was peculiar. Despite being deep within the Grasslands and now in Huangsha, there was a clear spring amidst the sand, reminiscent of the Crescent Moon Spring in the Singing Sand Dunes[1]. However, this was not where Crescent Moon Spring was; at least, it did not geographically match the one in the modern world. He wondered if this place also existed in the modern world, or if it was just a unique geographical feature of this world.

Although there was a water source, the environment was harsh and unsuitable for grazing. However, it was perfect as a temporary stopping point, which was perhaps why it had eventually evolved into a market where various tribes came to trade, managed and taxed by troops sent by Timur. Many merchants, especially those running inns and taverns, took up semi-permanent residences here, making it bustling and lively.

The market naturally lacked city walls or fortifications, and Zhao Changhe couldn’t tell where the military camps were located. However, he saw numerous merchant caravans stationed outside, with people busy unloading goods and heading inside.

Dusty and weary, Zhao Changhe entered the market and immediately spotted a streamer marking a tavern. As he approached it, he saw a sign that read “Rooms Available Inn” in multiple languages.

Zhao Changhe led his horse inside as if he had gotten home.

Extremely fitting for his expectations of this martial arts world, the inn had a charming and alluring female innkeeper. Her neckline plunged deep enough to reveal ample cleavage, and her figure swayed seductively as she walked, causing the men who had just come from the deserts of the Grasslands to feel dizzy.

Why call it Rooms Available Inn? Dragon Gate Inn[2] would be much better!

Ugh, looks like it's full.

“Innkeeper, why does your kumiss have such a seductive stench to it?” a customer shouted.

The entire hall burst into laughter. “This is wine brewed by Lady Three, how would it not have such a seductive scent? If it didn’t, we wouldn’t drink it!”

Another customer chimed in, “This jar I've got smells especially seductive.”

The innkeeper was not offended at all. She simply smiled and responded, “Right, I might have added my own urine to your jar while brewing it.”

The crowd laughed. “How come he gets such a reward? What about us?”

The innkeeper’s eyes flashed. “I’ll reward you all with water I used to wash my feet.”

The previous customer joked, “I think the wine I've got isn't mixed with human urine but horse urine. Innkeeper, can you add some of your water to compensate?”

Everyone who was initially just engaged in banter suddenly fell silent. They looked at the man strangely. Everyone was joking around, but he seemed serious.

Is this guy actually teasing Lady Three in Huangsha Market?

Zhao Changhe glanced at the table of drinkers, four burly men with broad faces, curly beards, high noses, and deep-set eyes. They spoke the Central Plains language, but their dialect was not quite standard. They were likely visitors from the Western Regions.[3]

Lady Three maintained her smile. “Oh, what if I don't have any water? What would you do? Would you not pay?”

The man replied, “If the innkeeper is willing to provide me some juice, then I've got money, plenty of it!”

“Then I’ll give you some.” Lady Three’s waist swayed as she walked over to the burly man who had just spoken. She then lifted the wine glass on the table as if she were really going to feed him.

The burly man’s eyes were filled with lust, but he suddenly froze in place.

Tink!

The wine glass shattered and a shard flew out. The shard directly pierced his throat and caused him to choke to death on the spot.

His three companions reacted quite late and they hurriedly drew their blades. However, before they could even draw their blades, the shards from the broken glass accurately flew into each of their throats.

In just an instant, all four customers on that table were dead.

As if nothing had happened, the innkeeper’s smile was just as bright. She calmly said, “Someone come and take their belongings. Dispose of their bodies outside to feed the dogs.”

Several waiters hurried over to clean up the scene. The other customers glanced over briefly, then looked away, as if the bloody murder that had just happened was nothing more than the butchering of some chickens.

Zhao Changhe recalled what Cui Yuanyong about the market being a lot messier than Sword Lake City. The level of chaos here was indeed far beyond Sword Lake City. Regardless of how chaotic it was at Sword Lake City, it still operated under certain civilized regulations. On the other hand, this place was utterly chaotic. Perhaps the various internal forces here were still somewhat wary of each other, but any outsider who dared to act recklessly would only find themselves dying of mysterious causes.

Those four were just seeking death. If a charming and alluring innkeeper like this dares to show her face in such a place, she either has extraordinary strength herself or she’s backed by an extremely powerful force. Only someone brainless would dare to provoke her like that.

Zhao Changhe felt that the innkeeper was at least on the Ranking of Man, and perhaps even the Ranking of Earth. But at the moment, he could not match her to any name listed on the Tome of Troubled Times. In addition, he felt that she was likely someone from the Central Plains. Could people from the Central Plains really thrive here? I wonder how Timur views these things during such a time.

Another person, seemingly unafraid of death, asked, “Lady Three, you’ve been teasing everyone for so many years. Seeing as you're getting older, isn't it a waste of your charms to not have a partner? When will you seriously make a move?”

“I'll wait for you guys to reach heaven first.” Lady Three laughed, seemingly unfazed by the usual teasing.

It was unknown whether she was referring to death or trying to say that only those who reached the Ranking of Heaven were worthy of her.

While replying casually, her gaze had already fallen on Zhao Changhe who was standing at the entrance with his horse. This ordinary-looking man had been standing there watching the show for a while now.

Twisting her slender waist, Lady Three smiled charmingly and said, “There were originally no seats, so it was inconvenient to entertain more guests. But luckily, are some free seats now. Sir, would you like to come in for a few drinks? We've got warm kumiss here.”

Zhao Changhe smiled. “But I don’t drink anything with a strong scent.”

Lady Three blinked her eyes. “Is that so? Then how about Jiangnan osmanthus wine?”

“That sounds good.” Zhao Changhe handed the reins to a waiter. “Lady Three, do you also have accommodation here? Or is this establishment just for dining?”

“We do. Would you like to stay here?”

“Yes, I would like to do so. For some reason, I feel that your inn is particularly safe.”

Lady Three smiled. “You've got a keen eye.”

She then observed Zhao Changhe a bit more, seemingly puzzled as to how a lone traveler like him had appeared here without carrying any goods.

Looking at the broad saber on his back, she could not recognize anything special about it. In these kinds of places, there were many people who carried such sabers. Scimitars and heavy single-edged sabers were the main weapons in the area.

As Zhao Changhe took his seat, Lady Three personally served him wine and casually said, “Not only do we have lodging, but we also have a gambling hall. Would you like to play a few rounds?”

Zhao Changhe, who was looking at the menu, was intrigued. “Is it possible to win in your gambling hall?”

Lady Three said with a smile, “Is it still a gambling hall if you can't win?”

1. He is referring to Ming Sha Shan (鳴沙山) in Dunhuang, China. ☜

2. This is probably a reference to the wuxia movie New Dragon Gate Inn, which had a female innkeeper as well. New Dragon Gate Inn is a remake of Dragon Inn/Dragon Gate Inn. ☜

3. The Western Regions or Xiyu (西域) was a historical name for the regions to the west of Yumen Pass, referring to present-day Xinjiang and parts of Central Asia. ☜