Chapter 242 – Marquis King

Watching Zhao Changhe drinking wildly on his own, Huangfu Shaozong was speechless. This guy was really putting on a show. If this performance could make a name for itself in the capital, half of it would be due to the audience's admiration, and the other half would be due to his own self-created image.

Not listening to his name, not drawing his sword, not getting up, using only one hand, and the wine was too little.

After putting on such a performance, he did have the ability to be arrogant. If Huangfu Shaozong didn't make a move, no one else could challenge him.

It's his turn to make a name for himself.

Learned, learned.

Until Zhao Changhe finished the bowl of wine, no one else dared to step forward to challenge him. This was a vivid lesson for the young people in the capital - why the Hidden Dragon List was called the Hidden Dragon List.

There are thousands of martial artists in the world, but only two or three hundred are on the list. Why? It's not because they are far superior to their peers, so why are they called hidden dragons? The list above and below are not on the same level, and among the hidden dragons, Zhao Changhe was at the forefront of the pack!

Especially when Zhao Changhe was only at the fifth or sixth level of the Xuan Guan, he was already at the forefront among his peers at the seventh or eighth level of the hidden dragons. This was when people realized why.

No false claims.

Not to mention others, at this moment, even Huangfu Shaozong gave up the idea of challenging Zhao Changhe. He realized that he might not be able to beat him. It was better to maintain his face two ranks higher than him. What's the use of forcing him to draw his sword? It would be a waste to give away his own rank... that's what true hospitality is.

It's better to be like this now. While others feared Zhao Changhe, he was also given a second look as the eleventh.

In the silence, the second brother respectfully carried a new wine jar upstairs and placed it in front of Zhao Changhe, bowing his head and said, "Our shopkeeper said that this wine is on the house, in honor of the hero."

Huangfu Shaozong sneered, "What if the young master has no money?"

"No, no, I have no such intention."

Huangfu Shaozong slapped a piece of gold leaf on the table and said, "Go, bring another ten jars, and serve the signature dishes quickly! I'm treating, what's the point of doing you a favor? I'm not stupid."

Zhao Changhe smiled helplessly, "Huangfu, whether you treat or not, I am very grateful to you."

Huangfu Shaozong looked at him meaningfully for a long time and sighed, "You've set up a stage for yourself, haven't you?"

Zhao Changhe laughed heartily, "Huangfu, you are also a clever person."

Huangfu Shaozong gestured to the people around him, "Take them out."

The servants of the Marquis's Mansion came forward and carried the challengers out of the building. After a moment of silence, Huangfu Shaozong finally calmed down and poured himself a drink, "Zhao, are you being too ostentatious?"

Zhao Changhe smiled ambiguously, "Isn't this the stage you set up, Huangfu?"

"I never thought that you would be so arrogant, I thought you would be a little more low-key and humble... after all..."

"To laugh at the world and be carefree... what's wrong with that?" Zhao Changhe raised his cup again and drank it all, "Since I'm here, why be timid? If this is all the excitement there is, it would only disappoint me."

Boom! Dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and torrential rain poured down.

The sky was completely dark.

The noisy restaurant became quiet, with rain beating against the building outside, and silence inside.

Huangfu Shaozong couldn't help but admire him. This person was so interesting, no wonder his sister wanted him to have more contact with him.

It seemed that when this person entered the capital, there would be a great stir... but here he was, sitting high on the tower, drinking, and the whole capital was silent, except for the young people who came to challenge the hidden dragons. The expected turmoil had not occurred at all.

It was as if a sixth-level Xuan Guan had suppressed the entire capital.

Although he knew it wasn't the case... he had suddenly entered the capital, and others had also acted unexpectedly. Even the attitude towards him might need a day or two of intense debate to reach a conclusion. And everyone was cautious, such as his identity and the noble concubine behind him, had they already proven a certain tendency?

If someone made a move, would someone else intercept it, and then everything would be put on the table, who would benefit?

The royal succession was a matter of great caution, and no one dared to take risks. Xia Longyuan was still alive...

So, despite his arrogance and laughter, the capital was silent.

Where was the tiger's den and the dragon's pool, if not here!

Knowing the reason, Huangfu Shaozong still couldn't help but admire him. Coming to the capital with a sixth-level Xuan Guan, as the center of the storm, facing countless people on the Heaven, Earth, and Human Lists, who could do what he did, looking down on everyone with such arrogance?

In the eyes of those who were attentive, it almost declared that today's domain had no one else but him!

In the distance, Tang Wanzhuang watched quietly, her beautiful eyes gradually becoming blurred. On the other side, Zhao Changhe raised his arm.

"Huangfu, is there a gambling house here? I have some free time to gamble a few rounds."

I thought you were going to ask if there were any prostitutes here... the Yihong Pavilion is right across, why ask about a gambling house? I haven't heard that this person is a gambler... could he be talking about gambling with his life?

Huangfu Shaozong's mind turned, and he slowly said, "Yes... at the end of this street, around the corner, is the Peaceful Gambling House."

"Oh, Peaceful, Happy, are they a chain?"

Huangfu Shaozong shook his head, "I've never heard of the Happy Gambling House.""Oh..." Zhao Changhe tapped his head, "That broken gambling house is far away in Jian Lake. It's not strange that you young masters from the capital haven't heard of it... So, how about it? Care to join me for some fun?"

"No, I'd better not. My family is extremely strict about this... I'm afraid my elder sister would break my legs if she found out. If Brother Zhao wishes to go, then please proceed on your own."

"Alright, I'll go have some fun by myself."

Amidst the storm, Zhao Changhe staggered away from the tavern, "The fun has ended, many thanks to Brother Huangfu for the hospitality."

Huangfu Shaozong stood on the upper floor looking down. He didn't know why Zhao Changhe wanted to go to the gambling house, but he did understand why Zhao Changhe intentionally left alone, so he purposely didn't see him off.

The straight boulevard, the rain-drenched street. Lanterns on both sides swayed in the rain, creaking, their noise interweaving with the pitter-patter of the downpour, creating a unique symphony.

Few pedestrians were about, hurrying by with their umbrellas, while a staggering drunkard walked down the middle of the road, as if no one else existed.

Wouldn't it be fitting if a flash of sword light suddenly appeared at this moment?

However, until Zhao Changhe had walked the entire rainy night street, there was no such disturbance.

Zhao Changhe, as if he hadn't had enough to drink, took out his liquor gourd and took another big gulp, laughing as he went, "The smoky scenes of the capital, that's all there is to it! It turns out that only the pure-hearted Young Master Dai can bring the most straightforward answer. Before you and me, we thought too much!"

No one knew who "you" referred to; everyone who heard it felt it was directed at themselves.

It's just a pity that the real "you" was still in the Four Elephant Sect.

"Clang!" Zhao Changhe pushed open the doors of the gambling house, swaying.

The doorman hurried to stop him, "Young Master, you cannot bring a sword into the gambling house."

Zhao Changhe glanced at him sideways, grinning, "What if the sword is what I'm betting?"

"Boom!" Thunder rumbled in the sky again.

A sigh finally came from inside the gambling house, "No one in the capital dares to take that bet."

Zhao Changhe laughed, "Not even the eighth on the Heavenly List dares to accept?"

"No one dares, and with the Fifth Master not around, we dare not make such a decision on his behalf," the person inside said leisurely, "But there's no problem with Young Master bringing a sword inside... The gambling house is more than just a gambling house. We have the best hot springs, the finest dealers to accompany you on your journey."

"Not bad, not bad, you guys are more interesting than Huangfu Shaozong."

"The noble families have too many concerns, whether it's the Huangfus or the Cuis. We commoners don't have so many scruples. When a guest arrives, we welcome them, please, Young Master."

"Who says we're scrupulous?" A resentful voice came from behind, "Young Master Zhao is a friend of our young master and has helped our family thwart the Maitreya Sect's conspiracy. The young lady said we should have received you ourselves, it's just that we were busy today and let Young Master Huangfu take care of it."

Zhao Changhe twitched the corner of his mouth, What are you doing? I'm busy here!

Could it be that the mention of a dealer accompanying him in the hot springs made them anxious...

The person inside the gambling house was also somewhat helpless, "Since Miss Qin has said so, we have no reason to force guests to stay, please as you wish."

Before the words were finished, Huangfu Shaozong hurried over, "That, Brother Zhao, although I can't accompany you into the gambling house, the guest courtyard at home is already well-prepared, with gentle maids..."

Similarly, before he could finish, a shrill voice came from a distance, "By the Empress's gracious decree, Zhao Changhe is summoned to the palace for an audience."

As if the wind and rain paused for a moment, Zhao Changhe laughed heartily, "What Empress, what head seat, what lord. I want to enter the gambling house, what does it have to do with you?"

After saying that, he ignored everyone and went straight through the door.

Huangfu Shaozong opened his mouth, then closed it again, while Qin with the zither ran away in tears.

In the distance stood an old eunuch, trembling with anger, "Outrageous..."

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