In the restaurant, Cui Yuanyong invited Zhao Changhe to dinner. He originally wanted to discuss some serious matters, but the Chaos Chronicles report changed the topic naturally.

"I didn't expect that the prestigious Earth List would fall here. If it weren't for the report from the Chaos Chronicles, I'm afraid no one would have known that such a strong person died so quietly," Cui Yuanyong sighed, "What was he doing in the Central Plains? No one would have known if he hadn't said anything."

"He came to the Central Plains to cause trouble, wanting to provoke the Wang family directly. Not only could it make the Central Plains more chaotic, but it could also draw away the Yanmen forces. For the Hu people, this should be considered an important enemy disruption during wartime. But there was an accident..." Zhao Changhe said.

"What kind of accident?"

"The Wang family still upholds justice. Wang Daozhong personally injured He Lei, and he knew it was impossible to continue, so he went back."

Cui Yuanyong stared at him expressionlessly, while Zhao Changhe drank his wine as if nothing had happened.

Cui Yuanyong also had some information and silently marveled at it.

In fact, Zhao Changhe had quietly quelled a storm. Blaming Wang Daozhong was simply a stroke of genius, seemingly a casual remark, but it had a far-reaching impact. Not only did the Hu people's plan fail, but the possible collusion between the Wang family and the Hu people was also blocked.

In addition, Zhao Changhe also disrupted the connection between the Wang family and the Maitreya Sect by killing the Maitreya Sect messenger in front of the Wang family's gate...

Search "pawℝead.com" for the original.

In the subsequent events in Jianhu City, was He Lei's exposure also because of Zhao Changhe?

It seems reasonable to say that the Hu people's trouble was completely ruined by Zhao Changhe, and the seventh on the Earth List died because of him. It all makes sense.

It's a bit strange... On the surface, what he did wasn't a big deal, but the impact was surprisingly significant. In the teachings of the sects, this often means that it's a matter of life and death, not something an ordinary person can bear.

No wonder his father is paying more and more attention now. Almost every detail about Zhao Changhe's information has to be personally inquired about. Others may think he's just looking at a son-in-law, but it's probably more than that... Did Xia Longyuan have such a life-and-death influence back then?

But Zhao Changhe sighed to himself, "I'm sighing, but the seventh on the Earth List died without any heroic feeling, no different from any ordinary small fry."

"...There is still a difference. If it were just anyone who died, the Chaos Chronicles wouldn't have reported it. Besides, how do you know whether the scene at the time was heroic or not? Maybe Zhuque also put in a lot of effort and even sighed with admiration for the tenacious opponent in the end?"

Zhao Changhe retorted, "Have you read too many novels?"

Cui Yuanyong retorted, "What's wrong? I think I would do the same if I were in that situation!"

Zhao Changhe snorted, "You are you, and Zhuque would look at his body and count it as my loss. That old woman..."

Cui Yuanyong also retorted, "I know you understand old women very well."

Zhao Changhe: "...Your mother."

In fact, Zhao Changhe hadn't recovered from seeing Xia Longyuan's aftermath, feeling that the Earth List was like ants. Cui Yuanyong naturally couldn't understand this feeling.

But seeing Zhao Changhe's sigh, Cui Yuanyong couldn't help but feel a little infected and sighed, "What you said is true. The seventh on the Earth List died so easily. What about us? We've been practicing for so long, but we're still like floating duckweed, and we can't stop practicing."

Zhao Changhe said, "Don't be so modest, bro. I know you've reached the ninth level of Xuan Guan. I also feel a lot of pressure compared to your generation."

"What pressure do you have? We have more pressure than you. By the way, how do you know I've reached the ninth level?"

"Just a guess. I just feel that you won't fall behind. You and Yue Hongling are evenly matched. She's on the Human List, and you're still on the Hidden Dragon List? It's been over a year since you reached the eighth level, so it's not surprising to enter the Human List. Tell me, when do you plan to enter the Human List?"

"I still have to find an opportunity to prove myself... According to the Chaos Chronicles' judgment, Xue Canghai was added to the list instead of me, which clearly means they think I can't beat Xue Canghai. I refuse to accept that. Don't let me see him."

Zhao Changhe couldn't help but laugh and cry, feeling that Master Xue was really unlucky.

The most embarrassing thing for Master Xue in his life was being challenged by Yue Hongling, and it's still being talked about by everyone. For the sake of this shame, he probably doesn't care about anything else and is determined to practice, planning to make up for the information gap the next time they meet. So the Blood God Sect has been quiet for the past few months, most likely related to this.

As a result, this report from the Chaos Chronicles probably made him so angry that his strength couldn't be hidden, and the effect was halved. Not only that, it also provoked the dissatisfaction and fighting spirit of Cui Yuanyong and other potential Human List candidates, shining as brightly as fireflies in the dark.

It's estimated that Master Xue is now jumping and cursing in the Blood God Sect, wondering who the idiot was who wrote this lousy book. Can't they write a book properly?

Cui Yuanyong retorted, "You say we're modest, but aren't you more modest than anyone else? You haven't practiced martial arts for a year, and look at how many people you've left behind... Can you figure out how much time you've spent resting peacefully?"

Zhao Changhe thought about it and secretly thought that he really couldn't figure it out. It probably was only about ten days, when he was in Suzhou with Tang Wanzhuang.

Even at that time, he was still organizing swordsmanship and learning to play the zither... If he's so busy in the mortal world, he's probably even busier in the Upper Clear Realm.

He took a sip of wine and laughed at himself, "Yes, I'm just a cabbage, both modest and incompetent, that's me."Cui Yuanyong laughed so hard that he spat out a mouthful of wine: "You really have a way with words sometimes... If you're calling yourself mediocre, then everyone else must be downright simple. But where does this term 'juǎn' come from? I've never heard it before, yet it feels oddly fitting."

"It's Zhao Village dialect," Zhao Changhe suddenly asked, "Hey, shouldn't His Majesty also be spouting Zhao Village dialect? Haven't you guys heard it before?"

"No, His Majesty doesn't have as many bizarre sayings as you do. Besides, he's not from Zhao Village, so where would he get Zhao Village dialect from?"

Zhao Changhe thought to himself how Xia Longyuan managed to do it. He had conquered the world without trying to push for any industrial reforms like other transmigrators, living completely like a native. Perhaps it was only in front of him that Xia Longyuan would happily let slip some modern terms...

Often, to avoid sounding too strange, he consciously controlled his speech. Now, nearly a year after transmigrating, the modern terms he let slip were fewer and fewer. But how to put it? Many terms he was used to felt most fitting, and it wasn't easy to find replacements on the spot, like the word 'juǎn'. To be like Xia Longyuan was truly difficult.

It suggested that Xia Longyuan must have been quite young when he transmigrated, probably a teenager in his rebellious phase, with adaptability and malleability far surpassing his own. It also explained why Xia's meridians weren't as useless as his own. If they had met in the same era, that guy would have been like a little brother, but now he's become a father-in-law. It just goes to show that the concepts of "time and space" are profoundly mysterious.

Damn, his mind was still full of Xia Longyuan, the impact on his psyche too great this time. Zhao Changhe shook his head, deliberately steering the conversation back to business: "You said you had a task for me, what is it?"

"Our band of heroes is mostly made up of martial artists who came to help voluntarily, each with their own duties. Some have enlisted directly, while others have formed elite squads to harass the enemy from behind. This suits the martial artists well. Of course, as I mentioned, there are also those who act alone, and who knows how many have died."

Zhao Changhe nodded: "Hmm, I think I'm also suited to be a commando, harassing the enemy from behind. How about you give me a map with the distribution of forces and troop strength, and I'll have a go at it."

"We have environmental maps, but forget about maps of forces and troop strength; those change too frequently," Cui Yuanyong said. "Don't change the subject. We're talking about a squad that went missing a few days ago, their fate unknown. We're organizing a search party in that direction. If by some luck they're alive, it would be a great fortune to rescue them."

"You want me to join the search and rescue?"

"I think it suits you. You're fast on a horse, alert, and sharp-witted, not like those martial artists who rush in blindly," Cui Yuanyong said, pulling out a sheepskin map and pointing to a location: "This is the topography of that area. There's a water source here. A tribe was stationed there, and the intelligence we received indicated they didn't have many people. It's unclear why they fell without a single survivor... It might not even be a defeat. Anyway, we need someone clear-headed to check it out."

Zhao Changhe took the map and after a quick glance, tucked it into his chest: "Alright, I came here to find some concrete tasks anyway. I knew I was right to look for the band of heroes."

Cui Yuanyong said earnestly, "Don't die out there, like He Lei."

Zhao Changhe said, "Now that you mention it, I'm actually worried about something..."

"What?"

"Where's Yue Hongling?"

Cui Yuanyong's expression shifted slightly: "Surely it's not that bad..."

"He Lei was so strong and yet he died in the Central Plains. What's to say what's bad or not? The steppe is not short of powerful warriors."

Cui Yuanyong's expression turned grim: "Now that you mention it, it has been a very long time since I last saw Yue Hongling..."

"Damn!" Zhao Changhe lost all appetite for food, abruptly stood up, and strode downstairs: "Innkeeper, prepare some dry rations for me... Yes, extra, for ten days!"

Cui Yuanyong followed helplessly: "What's the rush? Even with a hundred days' worth of rations, can you find her?"

"..."

"The map marks a place called Yellow Sand Gathering, a trading spot for the tribes of the steppe. If you get the chance, you can go there to gather information and resupply. It's better than blindly searching like a headless fly... Just remember, be very careful. The mix of characters there is far more complex than in Sword Lake City."