Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 318: Thief Saint Ye Wuzong

Zhao Changhe was engaging in conversation with Tian Lingzi, and while it seemed pointless, it did subtly shake the other party’s resolve and made him feel defeated.

Meanwhile, Xia Chichi was not interested in wasting words. She was focused on action, continuing to dish out attacks at Tian Lingzi relentlessly.

Clang!

As Zhao Changhe’s final words fell, Iceheart pierced through the feeble defense that Tiang Lingzi put up with his sword. The sharp and ruthless sword intent rushed straight toward his spiritual platform.

It was only then that Tian Lingzi realized that Xia Chichi was actually much stronger than Zhao Changhe. This woman’s a Profound Mysteries-level expert!

All this time, he had been distracted by Zhao Changhe’s reputation as the first hidden dragon. He had been thinking that Zhao Changhe was the one in charge, failing to realize that it was Xia Chichi who was the main force between them at the moment!

With his internal state already in disarray from the poison, he could hardly contend with the razor-sharp White Tiger Fang.

In a single exchange, his sword’s path was directly thrown off, and he could no longer put up any effective defense. He had to rely on his intricate movement art to dodge around, kicking a half-dead Jinqian Gang member at Xia Chichi in an attempt to delay her.

At the same time, he dashed toward the passage, intending to flee.

But his path was then suddenly blocked by a flash of blood-red light as Dragon Bird came swooping in.

Zhao Changhe had already anticipated Tian Lingzi fleeing and had long since been ready to swing his saber at the other party’s only path of escape.

Tian Lingzi spat blood from anger.

People say that everyone in Kunlun is treacherous, but look at these two! Just how in the world did Zhao Changhe even manage to earn such a heroic reputation? If he had been thrown into Kunlun, he would have fit right in!

However, this was not the end of this cunning expert. Tian Lingzi knew that he would not be able to make it through Zhao Changhe. He could only parry with his sword, halting his escape.

Behind him, Iceheart struck like lightning, aiming right for his heart.

But then, Tian Lingzi still managed to twist his body in a way that would prevent any of his vitals from being struck by Iceheart. Nevertheless, Xia Chichi’s sword still sliced across his shoulder blade, nearly severing his arm.

In just a few exchanges, Tian Lingzi had been reduced to look just like a bloodied corpse. He half-kneeled on the ground, supporting himself with his sword as he gasped for air. His eyes glared at the two with venomous hatred. “You speak of disgust, you speak of heroism, yet you’re after treasures just like everyone else.”

Zhao Changhe pressed his saber against Tian Lingzi’s neck and said calmly, “You’re wrong about that. I really have no interest in the item in the furnace. If I really did take it, then I wouldn’t be able to leave this place alive.”

Tian Lingzi was stunned.

Xia Chichi smiled slightly.

She had wanted to remind Zhao Changhe, but it seemed that his reputation had not really come about by luck. He truly was no less clever than her.

Seeing this, she felt that perhaps she could afford to be a little less cautious in the future.

Zhao Changhe continued, “Tarantula was able to use the poison here earlier. So, it’s either that she’s already figured it all out, or she’s taken some key item that was here. Since she had already been able to do so much, she should have been able to just open the pill furnace and take whatever’s inside it herself. And you can’t possibly think that she was simply waiting to share it with you, right?”

Tian Lingzi was stunned.

Tarantula already grasped how to use the poison here?

“The only reason that I can think of as to why she did not open the pill furnace is that it probably takes a lot of time. Previously, the poison here had not yet dissipated, so she probably could not stay here long enough to open it. She first needed your sinister plot of using others to thin the poison here to succeed. She left the jade token here because she intended for you to touch it. This entire time, she was plotting against you. We just took her place in carrying out the final parts of her plan.”

Tian Lingzi listened silently.

“Opening this pill furnace requires either immense strength, if you were to do it forcefully, or a specific method, which is probably known only by Tarantula,” Zhao Changhe sighed. “Tarantula was captured, but not by us. The senior who caught her is waiting outside, watching us kill you. He doesn’t care about what happens to either you or us, just the treasure. Therefore, as long as I don’t touch whatever is inside the pill furnace, there won’t be a conflict, and we can probably leave... right, Senior Thief Saint?”

A voice echoed from the passage. “You knew I was here?”

“If someone captured Tarantula, they would not have done so just for fun. There had to be a follow-up.”

“How did you know it was me?”

“When Tian Lingzi started selling ancient items, everyone suspected that it had something to do with the Thieves Guild. You, of all people, would have been watching. I figured that Tian Lingzi might be trying to trick you into absorbing some of the poison as well. The fact that you did not react meant that you were watching to see what he was up to. And as for Gang Leader Qian’s backer, that was probably you as well. His provocations against Tian Lingzi must have been due to your support or your instruction.”

The voice began laughing. “You’re quite right. Since you knew that I was watching, why did you still put yourself in danger? Aren’t you afraid that I would just kill you two as well?”

“Last night, I asked Tian Lingzi to inform you that I wished to meet with you... Whether he actually did so or not, I figured that you would know since you were watching. I wanted to meet you in the first place, so why bother with where we meet?” Zhao Changhe then said respectfully, “I, Zhao Changhe, seek an audience with the esteemed Thief Saint. Please allow me this meeting..”

The laughter drew closer and closer, and in a blink of an eye, an old man holding the shriveled Tarantula appeared in the room.

Both Zhao Chang and Xia Chichi’s eyes widened at the same time.

Wasn’t this the old man who sold us wontons last night?!

The dignified Thief Saint was personally selling wontons! Right, his stall was right by the Yukun Gang! He had seen everything that the Yukun Gang did! Even when we went to buy the gourd last night!

Ye Wuzong smiled slightly. “You wanted to meet me, but haven’t we already met?”

Zhao Changhe had nothing to say in response.

At that moment, Tian Lingzi, who had been remaining silent, suddenly struggled, “Master, master, save me! I never schemed against you! When I left, you said that I could not publicly claim to be from the Thieves Guild, but you also said that I could at least use the guild’s name to intimidate others. I never violated your orders...”

Damn, he’s actually part of the Thieves Guild?

Ye Wuzong’s eyes fell on him, and he was still smiling. “Actually, even if you did scheme against me, it would not matter. I told you when you left that a thief’s success depends on their own abilities.”

“Right, right,” Tian Lingzi said joyfully. “When Xiang Simeng stole from you, you didn’t mind either!”

Ye Wuzong’s smile did not waver. “Exactly, and since we all must rely on our own abilities, why should I save you?”

The smile that had only just emerged on Tian Lingzi’s face froze.

Ye Wuzong gently patted Tian Lingzi’s head, speaking softly like a loving father, “If you had truly fooled me, like that girl Sisi did, I would have been pleased and even admired your skill. But when an outsider openly asks to see me, possibly about important matters relating to the guild, and you hide it from me? Since you don’t consider yourself part of the guild, then you never will be.”

Tian Lingzi was horrified. “Master, please forgive—”

Before he could finish his words, Ye Wuzong shattered his skull, killing him instantly. Tian Lingzi’s eyes still reflected a look of regret.

Zhao Changhe withdrew his saber from Tian Lingzi’s neck and, together with Xia Chichi, stood silently.

The Thieves Guild really is a demonic cult. Their logic is just straight-up twisted. He’s fine with his disciples scheming against and deceiving him, but kills them for not reporting an outsider’s request to meet. We really can’t regard him as some kind old man just because he was selling wontons on the street.

Ye Wuzong then turned to them, his gaze softening as he looked at them. “What did you want to see me for?”

“Uh, actually, it wasn’t for anything that important...” Zhao Changhe scratched his head. “But since we’re already here, I was thinking that the Thieves Guild and the Four Idols Cult could discuss cooperating?”

Xia Chichi quickly added, “Yes, the Four Idols Cult has long wanted to communicate with the Thieves Guild, but we could never find anyone.”

“Heh...” Ye Wuzong said leisurely, “The Four Idols Cult is too involved in worldly affairs, unlike our Thieves Guild. We have no major matters to cooperate on. However, since none of us are virtuous and we’re all on Tang Wanzhuang’s wanted list, it’s indeed possible to help each other out in some areas.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Ye Wuzong said, “Such cooperation isn’t worth talking about in person. I’m much more interested in what Zhao Changhe wants to discuss with me.”

Xia Chichi said no more and turned to look at Zhao Changhe.

Zhao Changhe sighed. “I’ve been meaning to ask for one of your guild’s item retrieval techniques. Initially, I thought that if I helped you kill Tian Lingzi, it might be enough to exchange for one. But now, seeing that everything was under your control, it seems I can’t really make you owe me a favor.”

“Item retrieval techniques?” Ye Wuzong smiled. “For a storage ring?”

Zhao Changhe felt embarrassed. “Senior, you really do know everything...”

“Of course, I know. I also know that the yellow mud you put on your face is from my unique formula.”

Zhao Changhe suddenly realized that he was still disguised as Wang Daozhong and began sweating profusely. I’m fucked. Does that count as stealing a secret technique from the Thieves Guild?

But then Ye Wuzong sighed and said, “Ridiculous. You smear mud on your face and call it a disguise? Didn’t Sisi tell you that the core of disguise is acting?”

Zhao Changhe quickly glanced at Xia Chichi, relieved to see that she seemed unaware of who Sisi was. He then hastily said, “Uh, I think my acting was pretty decent...”

“Bullshit!” Ye Wuzong burst out in anger. “You carry a broad saber and claim to be Wang Daozhong?! Who the hell would believe you?! Without a storage ring to change your disguise and hide your items at will, what kind of disguise do you even have?! You’re absolutely smearing my reputation!!”

Zhao Changhe was taken aback.

Ye Wuzong casually tossed a booklet to him. “This is the Crane Controlling Art[1]. Next time I see you disguise yourself and still carry that saber, I’ll personally slap that disguise off your face! What a joke!”

1. The name of the martial/cultivation art here is 控鹤 (lit. control crane), and it actually refers to riding a crane. This refers to the imagery of immortals or celestial beings riding on cranes. This crane control or crane-riding art is most likely some art that trains psychic and spiritual abilities here. ☜